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Tag: Rafa Benitez

Benitez parts ways with Chinese CSL club Dalian Pro

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

DALIAN, China, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) — Former Real Madrid and Liverpool head coach Rafa Benitez has parted ways with Chinese Super League side Dalian Pro FC citing personal reasons.

“Due to personal reasons, Mr. Rafa Benitez will leave the post as Dalian Pro FC head coach as of today,” said Dalian in a statement on Sunday.

The club said since Benitez took over the team in July 2019, he has “incorporated advanced football concepts from Europe into building the club’s first team.”

“Mr. Benitez also was devoted to the youth training system, helping lay a solid foundation for the club’s development in the future. Dalian Pro FC would like to express heartfelt thanks to Mr. Benitez and his team for their contribution,” the club said.

The 60-year-old Spaniard has one year left on his contract with the club, which finished 12th in the 16-team Chinese Super League last season.

“Unfortunately, like so many things in the last year, Covid-19 has changed our lives and our projects. From today, both my coaching staff and I will sadly no longer be coaching the Dalian Professional FC,” Benitez wrote on his personal website.

“I say goodbye sadly under these circumstances, but at the same time I am convinced that the future will be bright for Dalian Pro,” Benitez said. Enditem

Sometimes you cannot stop good players, says Benitez

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

DALIAN, China, July 26 (Xinhua) — Rafa Benitez bemoaned his side’s inability to stop Marouane Fellaini after the former Manchester United player scored a header hat-trick to help Shandong Luneng beat Dalian Pro 3-2 in the first round of the Chinese Super League on Sunday.

Benitez’s team scored first through Jose Rondon in the 57th minute, before Fellaini headed in a hat-trick from the 79th to 86th minute.

“We have to be aware that he is quite good in the air and then needed to be close to him, but the delivery was good, the timing was good, and he had the quality with his header to make the difference,” Benitez said about Fellaini’s performance at the post-match press conference.

“We knew that we worked on that, but sometimes you cannot stop good players,” he said.

 

Benitez named manager of Chinese side Dalian Yifang after Newcastle exit

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/wuod-amary-sports-africa/" rel="tag">WUOD AMARY - SPORTS AFRICA</a>

Former Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has been appointed manager of Chinese side Dalian Yifang.

The Spaniard left the Magpies on Sunday after his contract expired, saying that the Premier League club “did not share his vision”.

He replaces Choi Kang-hee, who resigned on Monday “for personal reasons”.

“After a long path, we start a new challenge. I´m happy to begin this new project with Dalian Yifang,” said 59-year-old Benitez.

Benitez, who has also managed Liverpool, Chelsea, Valencia and Real Madrid, received a £12m offer to manage Dalian Yifang, tweeted a message welcoming himself to the club.

Benitez admits Newcastle’s prolonged takeover led to his decision to leave the club.

“It was a big problem in terms of my decision, I was waiting and I was asking for clarity and, like the fans, we didn’t know,” he said.

“Eventually, you have to decide. I could not continue in the same way, because I couldn’t see how to progress. It had to be clear to me, who was the owner, what would they do, and it wasn’t clear.'”

“When I came to Newcastle, they gave me the plans for the new training ground, I was talking to the architect about changing a few things and after three years they painted the walls,” he added.

“If you want to attract players, it’s about the facilities, the contract, the city, the way you treat them, the way you treat the agents.

He led Newcastle to a 13th place finish in the Premier League last season.

Benitez to assess fitness levels of Yedlin, Atsu and Almiron ahead of league clash against Arsenal

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/wuod-amary-sports-africa/" rel="tag">WUOD AMARY - SPORTS AFRICA</a>

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez will have to wait for last-minute decision on three players ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash against Arsenal.

After long trips during the international break, Miguel Almiron, Christian Atsu and DeAndre Yedlin could be left out of the team as the Spaniard awaits an update over their fitness.

Defender Fabian Schar has also been ruled out, although through suspension rather than injury and Sean Longstaff is unavailable for the clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Jamaal Lascelles is understood to be fit but could still be left out as a precautionary measure following the centre-back’s recent return from injury.

“The international break is always quite complicated, particularly at this stage of the season, because you can see a lot of injuries,” Benitez said.

“The players are tired and a lot of the national teams are playing for something so they are pushing players.

“We have some knocks but Sean Longstaff is the only player who is injured for us at the moment. Schar has had another test this morning and he was fine, training with the team.

“Today, we have had (Christian) Atsu, (DeAndre) Yedlin and (Miguel) Almiron coming back from international duty. We will need to make sure that they are fine tomorrow.

“When a player returns on a Thursday evening, it is quite difficult to get them ready for a game on a Saturday. But this game we play on Monday, so we have time.”

Lascelles and Yedlin both featured in Newcastle’s last clash with Arsenal as the Gunners won 2-1 at St James’ Park back in September.

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