Rafael Benitez blames Celta Vigo leadership for poor season, claims they are copying his ideas this summer | OneFootball

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez did not have the most glorious of returns for the first time he returned to management in Spain since his exit from the Santiago Bernabeu midseason. Sacked by Celta Vigo in March, Benitez says that he was not given the tools to succeed.

Benitez returned to Spanish football eight years on as Celta’s star signing for their centenary season, on a three-year deal and major wages. Yet after a season hanging around and eventually in the relegation zone, Benitez was sacked and replaced by B team manager Claudio Giraldez. He improved things and kept Celta up with games to spare down the home stretch, after months of Balaidos telling Benitez to leave.

Joining the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast though, Benitez has claimed that Celta’s summer business and the players they are getting rid of are the same ones he asked them to.

The ex-Valencia coach says Celta have waited in order to carry out that business, so as not to admit Benitez was right about their squad building. He also believes he was not given the tools for success, saying if was, he can ‘compete with anyone’.

During last season Benitez complained regularly about referees and bemoaned bad fortune for results. This summer Celta have sold their top scorer, a regular under Benitez, in Jorgen Strand Larsen, as well as Renato Tapia, Carles Perez, Carlos Dotor and Goncalo Paciencia. All the same, Celta fans will no doubt point to Giraldez’s vastly improved results with the same players, introducing several academy products.