Comments on: Mancini says he will quit Inter, Benitez stays smug

By: Premier League

Premier League — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:05:22 +0000

I actually heard that Benitez said that although Liverpool are in a good position, they are not the favorites to win the Champions League.

By: Mark Meadows

Mark Meadows — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:19:46 +0000

now it seems Mancini might be staying, but no one is really sure. Welcome to the wacky world of italian soccer

By: Mark Meadows

Mark Meadows — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:53:05 +0000

Hi Bryan, Benitez did indeed say those quotes when asked a second time.
However, he did not say he was not interested in the Inter job and the English press in the room got very excited.
In reality Im sure he does want to stay at Liverpool, even given the uncertainty with the owners.
Mancini’s shock decision just goes to show how different Serie A and the Premier League are. Managers in Italy make sudden decisions like this quite often while Premier League bosses tend to stick around longer.

By: Football Transfer

Football Transfer — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:16:48 +0000

please Roberto Mancini don’t quit.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:38:50 +0000

Mark,

It is interesting to see the way you have spun Benitez’s comments. You made it seem as though he was rather aloof and might indeed be considering a move away from Liverpool. Had you used the entire quote rather that reducing it to simply “I’m happy”, perhaps you would have given your readers a clearer picture of the intended meaning behind what Benitez said, rather than your take on it.

“I am happy at Liverpool and happy with my team and being in the Champions League quarter-finals.”

It is interesting that you choose to say that no one knew quite what Benitez meant, given that he seems to have made his meaning quite clear.

I guess a manager pleased with his position doesn’t make a very good story though, does it?