Liverpool would start their pre-season friendly at the end of the month. As the club had just changed ownership, the team did not go abroad to prepare for the match. Instead, they chose to warm up at home.
The management led by CEO Wilcott was swift and decisive, and they pursued efficiency. Wilcott, who had been working in the American sports circle for many years, knew that any conflict within the club had to be resolved as soon as it showed signs. It had to be resolved in the fastest and most efficient way. From another perspective, this was also to save time, and time was money.
On the morning of July 27th, Liverpool officials suddenly announced a major piece of news.
Manager Benítez and the club had reached an agreement to leave with a termination fee of five million pounds!
Liverpool's official website expressed their gratitude and appreciation for Benítez's work over the past five years and gave him high praise. The background of the article also used the glorious photo of the team winning the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005.
At the end of the article, Liverpool F.C. wished Benítez good luck.
Assistant manager Sammy Lee was in charge of the training that day.
Strictly speaking, Sammy Lee did not share Benítez's glory and disgrace.
Benítez was Spanish, while Sammy Lee was born and raised in Liverpool!
He was impressed by Shankly's Red Army when he was a child. When he grew up, his dream came true and he joined Liverpool. He played nearly 300 games for the Red Army and won three league titles and two Champions League trophies. He was the most passionate Red Army player during his playing days.
After his retirement, he assisted Souness to become a member of the coaching staff in 1993 and returned to Anfield. In 1999, he became the First Team's chief manager. His outstanding work led to him being spotted by the Football Association. In 2004, he joined the England coaching staff. In May 2008, the news of his return to Anfield excited all the Red Army fans!
From then on, he was Benítez's assistant manager, but he was not tied to Benítez's interests.
When the news of Benítez's resignation came, Sammy Lee seemed to have turned a deaf ear to it. He seriously and solemnly directed the team to continue training.
Alonso once again went to Qin Xiong's side during training that day. He was a smart man. He still wanted to stay at Liverpool, especially after Qin Xiong joined. Everyone could see that with Qin Xiong in the team, Liverpool's chances of winning the title had skyrocketed. However, he and Benítez were like fire and water. Someone had to leave.
Therefore, he indirectly told Qin Xiong that he believed in his judgment. Qin Xiong had a close relationship with Liverpool's behind-the-scenes boss and would definitely be able to influence the management's decision-making.
When Benítez confirmed that he was dismissed, Alonso knew that his judgment was correct. Through this incident, he could also feel the importance that Qin Xiong placed on him. This was the recognition of strength between teammates.
The team needed him. They needed him very much. Even if the manager could leave, the team was still unwilling to let him go!
This made Alonso have greater trust and expectations for Qin Xiong. He also understood that some things had to be said. He was smart not to mention anything about Qin Xiong and the Chinese boss.
When the two men passed the ball to each other with headers, Alonso said faintly, "The team has no manager."
"Yeah, that won't do."
Qin Xiong replied faintly.
"I hope that before the start of the new season, we won't be a team without a manager."
"That's definitely not going to happen. If it really doesn't work, you can be a part-time manager. "
"I don't have a coaching certificate."
"Don't you like to read? Hurry up and learn. "
.....
Fleet Street was in an uproar!
The Times, The Guardian, The Sun, and The Star, all major newspapers, after reporting the bombshell news of Benítez's dismissal from Liverpool, attacked Liverpool's management with all their might!
"This is nonsense! The new season is only three weeks away and Liverpool has no manager! "
"Is Liverpool's Chinese boss joking?"
"Sacking Benítez is the worst decision Liverpool has made this summer!"
.....
Even the Echo was in disbelief and anger at the Liverpool management's decision.
Tony Barrett personally wrote a column with a warning tone.
"Benítez has had several crises of trust in the past three years. Sacking him? Why not? Of course you can!
But which club in European football would sack a manager at the end of July?
It's almost unheard of!
What should Liverpool do to prepare for the new season?
Even if a new manager arrives tomorrow, how long will it take for him to familiarize himself with the work, take over the team, and instill a new philosophy into the team?
Liverpool's management has made an incredible and unacceptable decision, and they will pay the price for this decision!
At this time, almost no famous manager can come to Anfield. Look at Real Madrid. Even though they spent a lot of money in the summer to recruit Ronaldo and Kaka, plus other signings, and spent more than 200 million euros, who could they invite?
Pellegrini.
It's not that Pellegrini is not good, but compared to Real Madrid's previous managers, Bosque and Capello, his reputation is naturally not as good as theirs, because Pellegrini did not even have a decent championship honor in European football. That's why.
Even Real Madrid can only succumb to Pellegrini. Liverpool fired Benítez at this time, a manager with a record of La Liga, Champions League, FA Cup, and many other honors. What kind of manager can Liverpool hire in the next period of time?
.....”
The reaction of the Liverpool fans was also quite intense. Thousands of Red Army fans gathered outside the Melwood Training Ground. They held banners with slogans supporting Benítez, and some warned the management not to act recklessly!
After China Capital took over Anfield, they first repaid 50% of the debt, and then brought in Qin Xiong, which was good news for the Liverpool fans. As for the new stadium plan proposed by the previous boss, the China boss did not mention it, and the Liverpool fans did not put pressure on the club. After all, they could not go overboard.
But now that the news of Benítez's dismissal came, the views of the Liverpool fans were similar to those in the newspapers. They thought the management was fooling around!
Later that day, Liverpool's official website issued another notice.
This statement announced that Alonso was not for sale, and shattered the rumors of Alonso and Real Madrid. At the same time, it published the comments made by Alonso in an internal interview with the club. Alonso said that he would insist on fighting at Anfield!
He also said that he had never considered leaving Liverpool, and that the newspaper's report of him flirting with Real Madrid was a complete rumor!
This news was also good news, but for Liverpool, the lack of a manager was always a priority that must be solved.
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