Rafael Benitez Admits Decision To Leave Liverpool FC Was Hard

Rafael Benitez has admitted the decision to quit Liverpool was a tough one but insists he leaves with good memories.

The Spaniard was officially unveiled by Inter as their new manager yesterday after agreeing a severance deal with the Anfield side to end his six-year reign.

Benitez’s position in the Liverpool hot-seat was coming under increasing pressure after a disappointing season which saw the side finish seventh in the Premier League, fail to qualify from the group stages of the Champions League and Reading dump them out of the FA Cup third round.

With speculation mounting Benitez’s relationship with the club’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett was becoming ever more frayed and the likelihood the manager’s ambitious summer transfer plans would not be matched, the 50-year-old opted to agree to a departure.

Though ending his tenure in far from glorious circumstances, Benitez will be remembered for the famous Champions League and FA Cup triumphs he brought to the club.

Speaking to the assembled Italian media, Benitez talked fondly of his time at Anfield but refused to discuss his relationship with Liverpool’s owners.

Instead he reflected on the positive times on Merseyside and his aspirations to repeat those successes at the San Siro.

“It was difficult to leave Liverpool after six years working there, I had amazing times there”, said Benitez.

“Also my daughter is seven, she lived most of her life there.

“It’s not easy but things changed so I needed to move and I had the perfect opportunity to come to Inter.

“I hope it will be perfect for me and perfect for Inter.

“The club (Liverpool) was fantastic, the fans amazing so it was a really sad day when I had to go but things changed so it was obvious I had to do it.

“The owners are the owners. Now I’m in a different club and I’m very happy to be here.

“My relationship with Liverpool fans was great from the beginning and I hope it will be so here. I think the fans will be happy.”

Naturally, Benitez’s move to Inter has sparked rumours that he will raid his old club for new players but the Spaniard was refusing to comment on speculation linking him to, in particular, Javier Mascherano.

“I have been in contact with the majority of players and the majority said thanks for everything and all the best”, added Benitez.

“I talked to Gerrard when it was his birthday and he’s fine. He wants to talk about the World Cup now, not anything else.

“I wished them all good luck for the World Cup. Now they’re all focused on that.”