| Many have cited the way Rafael Benitez | | | | goal; and that is to continually improve |
| handles his strategy as unorthodox but | | | | his team. That cannot be done, he |
| brilliant (as the two are so often | | | | argues, without trying to find who is |
| linked) and, while few are as willing to | | | | available and see what they can do. This |
| take the chances he does, all have to | | | | thinking is simple but aggressive, and |
| admit that his particular brand of | | | | marks him suite different than his |
| thinking suits him well; leading him to | | | | fellow coaches. |
| an impressive record. But what makes him | | | | He places an emphasis on team, rather |
| seem so strange when compared to other | | | | than one player. Many teams will have a |
| coaches? What earns him so much debate | | | | definite "star" and try to build |
| and admiration? It is quite simple, | | | | strategies around that individual. |
| really: he refuses to stay content. | | | | Benitez does not. Instead, he calls for |
| Yes, yes, we know: all coaches want the | | | | team effort and support. No footballer |
| best for their teams and will seek it | | | | is to rank above another (whether he's a |
| out. But, at the same time, there is a | | | | star player or not), simply because this |
| certain level of complacency that occurs | | | | does nothing to help the overall goal of |
| when a team becomes successful. Players | | | | becoming better. Players work best |
| and coaches alike will believe their | | | | together, not separated by rankings of |
| method has been perfected and that they | | | | who is supposedly the best. And this |
| should do nothing to change it. After | | | | type of thinking borders on the shocking |
| all, why tamper with something that has | | | | in the sports' world, because so few |
| proven to work? | | | | will dare to do it. |
| They will refuse to look at other ideas | | | | But, in truth, Benitez offers a common |
| because they are worried of destroying | | | | sense approach to football: a team |
| the success they have created. | | | | cannot think themselves perfect; there |
| Benitez is the opposite of this. He | | | | is always room for improvement; no |
| willingly seeks out change. There is no | | | | player is guaranteed to be safe to |
| one who boasts a roster that is more | | | | change; and no player puts himself above |
| constantly updated, fixed or completely | | | | the good of the team. With this, he's |
| reorganized as he does. And there is no | | | | managed to create a strategy that |
| one who will more actively look for new | | | | works... and succeeds. |
| talent. As a coach, Benitez has one | | | | |