New Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino hails ‘master’ Rafa Benitez after learning from him at Liverpool
MAURICIO PELLEGRINO says he has the tools to be a success in England after learning from the master — Rafa Benitez.
The new Southampton manager cut his teeth in coaching as assistant boss to Benitez at Liverpool and Inter Milan.
But his story with the Toon chief goes right back to when he played for him at Valencia.
It was there Benitez made a name for himself.
And Pellegrino — who also played under the Spaniard for half a season at Liverpool — insists he was a massive influence on his managerial career.
He said: “Rafa was one of the most important people I’ve ever worked with in football.
“I shared with him three wonderful years at Valencia as a player and got the opportunity to work with him for two years at Liverpool as a coach.
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“I was living one of the most important experiences — not just about football but of my life.”
Pellegrino, 45, first crossed paths with Benitez after one of the most heart-wrenching summers of his career.
The Argentinian missed the decisive penalty in a shootout as Valencia, under coach Hector Cuper, lost the 2001 Champions League final to Bayern Munich.
He said: “When Rafa came from Tenerife, there were a lot of questions about whether he was the right manager for us.
“But quickly, he convinced people with results.
“He was very good to me and made sure I did not dwell on negatives from the past and told me to concentrate on the future.
“In the first year we won La Liga and then again in the third year. We also won the Uefa Cup.
“It was one of the most important moments in the club’s history.”
Pellegrino learned the art of using psychology to get the best out of his players after observing Benitez’s techniques.
He said: “He was brilliant at using psychological methods to maximise the potential of a player.
“That is the most important thing I learned from Rafa.
“As a player, you always knew what you were doing every day.
“He made things very clear in our minds.” Benitez left Valencia for Liverpool in 2004 — which was bad news for Pellegrino as he fell out of favour with incoming boss Claudio Ranieri.
But Pellegrino is not bitter towards the Tinkerman.
He said: “I have good memories with Claudio because, although it was not the best for me, he was a good person.
“We talked openly and he told me he wanted to change some players.
“I had to respect his opinion and left the club.”
Pellegrino followed Benitez to Liverpool in 2005.
And he played the second half of the season in which the club beat AC Milan on penalties in the Miracle of Istanbul Champions League final.
Unfortunately for Pellegrino, he did not feature in the European games because he was cup-tied.
He said: “Rafa brought me to help the team defensively.
“I knew his methods and he used me to help the players on the pitch — and that year we won the
Champions League.
“I couldn’t play in the final because I had played games already that season in the Champions League for Valencia.
“But I did my best to help the team and it was an emotional time to win that final against Milan.”
And Pellegrino then moved into coaching, taking charge of youth teams at Valencia. He got his big break when Benitez invited him to be his assistant at Liverpool in 2008.
He said: “I was working in Valencia with young players, 15 years old, and when Rafa called me I had no doubt about the opportunity.
“For me, it was like being with a master for two years and I learned a lot.
“Rafa was really demanding and, if you want to be the best, you have to be.
“For example, with the physical training, the goalkeeping training, I had to draw up the plans for the week. It had to be on his desk by 8am Monday without fail.
“This was important. It may sound a small thing but all these small things collectively make a big thing. The big thing is the game. Tactically I learned a different level.”
Liverpool so nearly won the title in 2009 — but Manchester United pipped them by just four points.
And Pellegrino admitted: “It was a pity. We got 86 points — the most amount of points for a team finishing second.
“The team that season was one of the best I’ve worked with. It was a shame — the Premier League was a huge goal for us.”
Pellegrino ended up going to Inter Milan before Benitez was sacked. Since then he has managed Valencia, when they were going through financial difficulties, and Argentine sides Estudiantes and Independiente.
But he made his name last season when he took charge of newly promoted Alaves.
He guided the minnows to ninth in La Liga and a Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona.
But Pellegrino says he loves English football and will relish managing in the Prem.
He said: “I always said to myself that one day I wanted to manage in the Premier League. It’s been my dream.
“I loved living in England, so it will be great to be back.”
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