Benitez is the right choice for Inter

Former-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is expected to be announced as the new manager of European Champions Inter. Benitez had an up and down time at Liverpool but will be hoping for better in Italy.

His Anfield career went from the highs of winning the Champions League in 2005 to the lows of finishing seventh in the Premier League last season.

Second Chance

Benitez has walked straight into a fantastic job after failing in the Premier League. Not many bosses are that lucky. Although Benitez was a failure at Anfield, I believe he will be a good choice for Inter due to the style of football his sides play. He perfected a counter-attacking style at Valencia but that style didn’t suit the Premier League.

However Serie A and Italian football will appreciate his more cautious approach. His tactics are very similar to that of former-Inter coach Jose Mourinho. Benitez is not quite as good as Mourinho at winning trophies but he’s good enough to keep Inter progressing.

Challenge

The 50 year-old was at Liverpool for six years and maybe he was going a bit stale. The players had lost faith in him and he could no longer get the best out of his team. He is a good coach maybe he just needs a new challenge.

Taking over Inter after Mourinho could prove one of the biggest challenges in football, as Mourinho and Inter won an unprecedented treble last season. Anything that happens next season, apart from another treble, would prove a major disappointment.

Stars

The Spaniard will have to persuade his top players to stay at the club. Rumours are rife that their top players could move on now that ‘The Special One’ has left the Giuseppe Meazza. Benitez will also have to strengthen his squad and one of his former players could soon be making the move to Milan.

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has already been linked with a reunion with his former boss in Italy. The 25 year-old hasn’t moved to deny the rumour either. The Argentinian international is just the sort of player that Benitez likes in his midfield anchor man role.

Another Argentine Esteban Cambiasso usually occupies that position for the Nerazzurri but could be replaced by Mascherano, just like he has been at international level.

Staff

Benitez is likely to bring a number of his old coaching staff with him from Liverpool. His assistant is likely to be former-Valencia defender Mauricio Pellegrino and goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero is also set join him at the Italian champions.

Esteem

Rafa Benitez is held in extra high esteem at Inter thanks to Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League triumph over Inter’s rival AC Milan. Most Inter fans will welcome the arrival of Benitez but reaction isn’t universally popular in Milan. A minority of Inter fans want a more attack-minded coach.

His reputation seems to somehow be intact despite Liverpool’s awful season. European giants Real Madrid were also linked with a move for the former-Valencia boss. Italian giants Juventus were also interested in acquiring his services before they appointed Luigi Del Neri. Clubs the size of Real and Juve don’t generally hire small-time coaches. It just proves he’s still highly-rated on the continent.

Point

Benitez knows that he now has to prove himself all over again. He may be a good manager but if he fails at Inter then his career may never recover. He knows that the next job he takes needs to be the right one or he might never get another job at a top European club.