Selling Alonso Is Rafa's Biggest Undoing

Xabi Alonso finally made his way out of Anfield after endless stories of being exhibited by under fire Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez to accommodate Gareth Barry. Rafa perhaps was right he wanted Barry at anfield but, all did not go right after he was denied money by the Liverpool directors. Alonso too had other ideas about his Liverpool career. Any right thinking mind would snub Rafa and think about move elsewhere, with all the attention from top clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid among others then. When Manchester City snatched Barry from Rafa’s nose, Alonso had to stay by all standards. But what was Rafa going to tell the Spanish midfielder that would convince him to stay at Anfield? He simply had nothing to say to the player but apologise to him for devaluating his game. What Alonso ever going to trust Rafa’s word? Definitely, that never was going to be. Rafa resigned to the kop fans to try and convince the instrumental midfielder that he had a great future at Anfield. Pleas by kop fans in Asia during pre season tours failed to yield fruit. The player moved on. But has Rafa moved on? Obviously, no! After five unexplainable losses in the Premier League and the last nail in the coffin by Lyon, which most probably could see the end of Liverpool in the Champions League, Rafa’s job is being debated by pundits. Rafa’s biggest problem is that he failed to deal with emotion. When the wrongs outnumber the rights, he tends to prevail on his playing staff. Luis Garcia, Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane, Muhammad Sissoko, Jermaine Pennant and the list is endless have fallen prey to Rafa’s emotion. Last season, Liverpool came to touching distance of the premier league. This was squarely down to the consistence in his lineup. The midfield possessed the weaponry of Alonso, not only an acute passer of the ball but shouldered the goal burden. Alonso forged a tireless combination with argentine, Javier Mascherano which saw big teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea collapse at Anfield and away. However, while Alonso added to the goal tally, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have lifted the reds at most times. It has explained the struggling form of Liverpool this season. Torres and gerrard have been out injured and at times played in pain. This has limited Rafa’s options and left him in utter stress. He has spent over 220 million pounds in importing stars to Anfield but a host of them have gone behind doors. The departure of Alonso to a greater extent demoralised Liverpool stars. Gerrard, dirk Kuyt, Benayoun, Mascherano and Pepe Reina echoed their dismay at the manner in which the whole saga unveiled. Rafa can only have himself to blame for the crisis unfolding at Liverpool. He can only be lucky if the kop directors do not prevail on him by wielding the axe.