Materazzi hits out at Benitez

Former Italy defender Marco Materazzi has praised Jose Mourinho for his achievements at Inter Milan but criticised his successor Rafa Benitez.

Last Updated: 14/11/12 at 14:16 Post Comment

Marco Materazzi: Has lauded Jose Mourinho but accused Rafa Benitez of being '

Marco Materazzi: Has lauded Jose Mourinho but accused Rafa Benitez of being '

The Portuguese won the Supercoppa Italiana, the Coppa Italia, two Serie A titles and the UEFA Champions League during his two-year spell with the Italian side.

He quit the club in May 2010 to join Real Madrid, with former Liverpool boss Benitez appointed as his replacement the following month.

However, he endured a difficult time at the Giuseppe Meazza and despite winning the Club World Cup he was sacked in December, just six months after his appointment.

Materazzi, who left Inter at the end of the 2010/11 season, looks back fondly on his time at the club with Mourinho in charge but is scathing of his successor Benitez.

"Mourinho was number one. His secret was to make the players feel involved in the project," he told Sport Mediaset.

"In Madrid [during the 2010 Champions League final], he told me that he was leaving. I said to him: 'Damn you for leaving me with Benitez.'

"I did not get on well with Benitez. I had the front pages from newspapers showing the most important moments of my career, Inter with Mou [Jose Mourinho], Italy with [Marcelo] Lippi and Benitez made me take them down.

"He thought he knew everything, but he was afraid of his own shadow."

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m absolutely disgusted that I've been misquoted in saying that if a chance came up to join Arsenal I would be interested. What I meant to say is if Man United or Chelsea were interested......

gulliver
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

Footer 365

Champions League final: Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says side can bounce back

Jurgen Klopp is backing Borussia Dortmund to reach another Champions League final despite their defeat to Bayern Munich.

Champions League final: Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben relieved by Wembley win

Bayern Munich hero Arjen Robben admitted winning the UEFA Champions League buried his previous demons.

Champions League final: Mats Hummels salutes Bayern Munich after Wembley win

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels admitted Bayern Munich deserved to be crowned champions of Europe.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved