Yossi Benayoun has spoke about the reasons behind his decision to leave Liverpool in 2010, revealing he never wanted to depart but felt he had no alternative.
The former midfielder exited Liverpool 15 years ago this summer, joining Chelsea in an ill-fated spell in London that involved a serious injury and two loan moves. He controversially criticised manager Rafael Benitez at the time of his exit from Liverpool, claiming the Spaniard was the ‘reason I left’.
In an explosive interview with the News of the World, Benayoun said: “Benitez tried to break me. When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game. He tried to destroy my confidence. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy.”
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The one-time West Ham United star also said Benitez told him ahead of the final match of the 2009/10 that he wouldn't be in the matchday squad and to find a new club.
Benayoun left Liverpool that summer, as did Benitez, who ended his six years on Merseyside when the side slumped to a seventh-place finish. But a decade and a half on, the emotions are still clearly raw for Benayoun, who was back at Anfield on Saturday, playing against Chelsea in a charity match.
Asked about his ill-fated departure from the club, the 44-year-old said: “I think I said this in the press, I made an interview because although Rafa brought me and he helped me a lot here for three years, but I felt in the end that I didn't get the credit that I deserved and I left because I thought Rafa would stay for one year.
“I spoke with him directly and I decided that if he stayed I told him I didn't want to leave. I never wanted to leave Liverpool, but he told me that he would stay one more year so I had to leave. But a few days later he left.
“I think if you read my interview you will understand exactly, I said everything, I think. But now it's in the past and I'm happy and I'm privileged. I had the privilege to play for three years for the best club in the world.”
There’s clearly a strong affinity still between Benayoun and Liverpool. When it was put to him that he could have swapped teams at half-time in Saturday’s charity game, the Israeli replied; “I play only for Liverpool.
“Like a lot of people, you have a dream to play for big clubs like Liverpool and I was lucky to do it. But to play at the age of almost 45, to come back and play at Anfield in front of a full stadium, I think it's a dream that you can not even dream. It’s amazing.
“Since we left, I think most of the players were in connection with the club; some events, some interviews that you are doing,” he added. “I think it shows how big is this club compared to others that. Not all the clubs are keeping in touch with ex-players, so it's amazing. This is why Liverpool is so special.”
Benayoun played the second 45 minutes at Anfield, in a match that was organized to raise funds for the LFC Foundation. He was certainly one of the fitter players, demonstrating he still has that balletic ability to drive through the heart of opposition sides, while he joked that his midfield partner, Steven Gerrard, was still calling the shots alongside him.
“Like always, he tells us where to go. ‘Go left, right’. We have to do it,” said Benayoun. “You didn't see I didn't go forward? I just tried to stay near to pass the ball. It was amazing. For me, they always ask me who is the best player I ever played with and Steve is the most complete player ever.”
On the current team, Benayoun said: “I think it's one of the best teams in Europe. Unfortunately, they lost to a great team like Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. We watched from Israel, me and my family, the game also against Newcastle.
“We all [would have] loved [if] that they win the cup, but they lost it. But as I said before, the most important title is the league. I don't want to open it up, but they have a big gap between them to Arsenal and I'm sure they will do it.”
