Watch: Rafa Benitez – ‘You Can Beat Malta While Smoking A Cigarette’
Spanish manager Rafa Benitez said that a manager of a top international team can see off Malta while smoking a cigarette on the touchline.
During an interview on the Stick to Football podcast, hosted by Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright, Benitez discussed his future and the possibility of managing an international team.
“In qualifications for the World Cup and the Euro Cup, in 50% of the games you will win with a cigarette and that’s it,” he said.
“You’re a top side and you play against Malta, Luxembourg, Andorra etc. Half of the games you will win with a cigarette, and then you have a couple of other games where you will have to compete. Then you have two years to build something and then compete at a tournament.”
Benitez is perhaps best-known for his six years in charge of Liverpool, where he masterminded the ’Miracle of Istanbul’ in the 2005 Champions League Final. He has also managed Real Madrid, Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Valencia, Napoli, Inter, and until recently Celta Vigo.
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