Fulham vs Chelsea: Rafa Benitez on former players Alonso and

Fulham vs Chelsea: Rafa Benitez on former players Alonso and

According to Bbc.

Why is this important

The match between Fulham and Chelsea is of great importance for both clubs in the context of their performances in the Premier League. The rivalry between coaches Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, who were once teammates, adds further interest to the matchup. Success in this match could have a significant impact on the season prospects of both clubs.

Key takeaways

• Fulham vs Chelsea: Rafa Benitez on former players Alonso and.
• Rafael Benitez discusses the coaching paths of his former players Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, who will meet as opponents in the Fulham-Chelsea match.
• Fulham v Chelsea: Rafa Benitez on former players Alonso and Arbeloa as managers - BBC Sport.

When former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is asked whether he expected his former players Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa to become managers, his answer is sincere: "Alonso, yes. Arbeloa, not so much," he says. "Arbeloa came as a surprise to me." Almost 20 years after Benitez brought them together at Anfield, the pair will face off when Arbeloa's Fulham take on Alonso's Chelsea on Monday.

Both players won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain, and also enjoyed success at club level when both signed for Real Madrid after Liverpool. They played together for seven years and appeared 262 times for club and country, and their careers remained closely intertwined after their playing careers. Arbeloa was promoted from Real B to replace Alonso when he was sacked by the Spanish giants in January last season.

"He was at Castilla [Real Madrid's academy], which was similar to how I started, and then he came to Madrid in special circumstances," Benitez says of Arbeloa's promotion to Real Madrid coach. Both returned to England in July to take up their first Premier League jobs and now lead clubs whose stadiums are just two miles apart. “With Alvaro, he knows the Premier League,” says Benitez. "But his experience is shorter than Xabi's. We need to know how he can cope outside Real Madrid, which protects you in a certain way. Outside you are alone."It's no surprise that, as teammates - including playing together under Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, and Vicente del Bosque with Spain - and spending time off the pitch, including holidays together, the pair are, according to Arbeloa, "very good friends" despite being "rivals when the game starts." He explained that they had spoken to each other ahead of Monday's match, but not about football. Other similarities will be that both will live near each other in Cobham, Surrey, and their children will attend the same school. According to Arbeloa, their friendship "will never change."

Alonso was one of Benitez's first signings at Liverpool in 2004 as he tried to revamp the squad left behind by Gerard Houllier, while Arbeloa joined in 2007 from Deportivo after rising through the Real Madrid ranks. Benitez explained that Alonso has experience of "training at a different level in a different country", having achieved success in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, winning the league and cup in 2024. Alonso in particular had a "vision" on the pitch, Benitez says, while his experiences at Liverpool, Real Madrid and then under Pep Guardiola at Bayern "opened his mind" to different approaches to coaching.

Benitez recalls a moment of magic from Alonso in a 2009 game that demonstrated his footballing intelligence.Against Sam Allardyce's Blackburn at Anfield, Alonso ignored instructions to shoot a free-kick at the far post. Instead, his cross to the near post allowed Fernando Torres to score his second goal of the match, and Liverpool won 4-0. “He was always thinking about something,” Benitez said.

Not only Alonso and Arbeloa became coaches from among Benitez's players in Liverpool. He lists more than 20 names who have become coaches or managers, including Wales head coach Craig Bellamy. He also notes that Djimi Traore is now an assistant coach at the Seattle Sounders. "I sent him to the shower at half-time in the Champions League final [in 2005]," he recalls of the defender, who was waiting to be substituted after a poor first half before Steve Finnan's injury brought him back into the game for Liverpool's historic second-half comeback and subsequent penalty shoot-out victory against Milan in 2005. He adds: "They always take something from you. Maybe two or three things that they can use [as coaches], and I'm happy with that."

Since Benitez began coaching at Real Madrid more than 40 years ago, this summer he finds himself in the unusual position of being without a job. Now 66, Benitez says he is "looking forward to a new challenge", adding that his love for the game has not faded, nor has his desire to "improve teams and players".He believes he lived up to expectations in his latest role at Panathinaikos, securing the top-four finish he was tipped for when appointed in October, but was sacked in May. Explaining his motivation, Benitez says: "I was a PE teacher before and tried to improve young people. It was the same as when I worked with Anthony Gordon at Everton." The former Newcastle and Chelsea manager remains UEFA's technical observer and talks about how to adapt to modern football, using social media, artificial intelligence and increasingly sophisticated data as part of his approach. "I've had some offers," says Benitez, who has recently been linked with the Scotland national team. "Maybe it's the national team because a lot of teams will change after the World Cup, but there has to be something where you feel you can achieve something, whether it's promotion like we had at Newcastle, with amazing fans. I know football is more demanding now. You need to be patient because if you're not, if you change coaches under social media pressure every seven months, then you won't have a project. It's a difficult task."

What happens next

After this match, both clubs will be looking to improve their positions in the Premier League. Fulham and Chelsea will be reviewing their tactics and squads to prepare for the next games. It is important how the results of this match will affect the morale of the teams and their further performances in the season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current form of Fulham and Chelsea?

The article does not provide information about the current form of the commands.

Are there any injuries or missing players for Fulham or Chelsea?

The article does not mention injuries or missing players.

What are the bets for Fulham vs Chelsea?

The match is important because it is a meeting between two coaches who are former players of the same team.

When will the Fulham vs Chelsea match take place?

The match will take place on Monday.

What experience do Fulham and Chelsea managers have in the Premier League?

Alvaro Arbeloa has less Premier League experience compared to Xabi Alonso.

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