Redknapp: The Manager Had Lost The Dressing Room

Former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp claims Rafa Benitez simply had to be relieved of his post at Anfield because he “had lost the dressing room”. The former Kop hero also advocates Kenny Dalglish as the natural successor to the recently deposed Liverpool manager.

Last week Benitez was sacked as Liverpool boss following a season in which the once peerless Anfield club had finished seventh behind Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Aston Villa, and Redknapp believes it was absolutely the correct decision because he has it on good authority that the Spaniard had lost the dressing room.

Liverpool now face a battle to hold onto to their two world class players, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, both of whom have been strongly linked with transfers away from Anfield amid reputed interest from Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Redknapp, formerly a Liverpool captain, claims the club should appoint Kop legend Kenny Dalglish because he has the aura and respect to retain the club’s top stars.

The ex-Liverpool captain told the Daily Mail: “Benitez won the Champions League and the FA Cup, but it was time for him to go.”

“I speak to some of the Liverpool players, but you don’t have to do that to see how unhappy they were last season.”

“The manager had lost the dressing room. They almost downed tools.”

“The players were fed up and beaten. You can’t have Liverpool players like that!”

“It reflected in their performances and their final league position. Whoever takes the job has a huge task rebuilding morale and standards.”

“He will inherit some good players — but not enough.”

“He will have to take on the responsibility of keeping Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.”

“I just think Kenny (Dalglish), with all his Liverpool history, will have a better chance of achieving that, as well as attracting fresh blood.”

“The modern Liverpool don’t need just a figurehead, but a leader. Kenny can be that man.”

“Christian Purslow, the new managing director, has been bold with his decision to sack Benitez and now he faces a challenging period searching for the right man. The right man, in my opinion, is under his nose.”