In any job if you want to be in the very best in the business then you have to have sky-high standards.
We always remember Liverpool’s legendary manager Bill Shankly talking about what you need to do to be successful in football management and he said this in what has become one of Bill’s classic quotes:
It really does applies to all professions and if you want to be successful then you’ve got to aim for something much higher than you want to get too – otherwise you will always fall short.
So as one particular example of this is any Premier League club which aims to finish in the top half of the Premier League will probably be in a lot of relegation trouble over the years.
New Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino was Rafa Benitez’ assistant when he was the manager at Liverpool and for a short time at Inter-Milan before he was fired.
Since taking the Saints job Mauricio has been talking about his time working with Rafa and how demanding the Spaniard was in everything he did.
But Mauricio realized rather quickly that if you want to be the best then you have to do things as perfectly as possible – as perfectly as you can.
This is some of what Mauricio Pellegrino said in his interview in the Sun recently:
“Rafa was really demanding and, if you want to be the best, you have to be that.”
“For example, with the physical training, the goalkeeping training, I had to draw up the plans for the week” “It had to be on his desk by 8:00 am Monday without fail.”
“This was important. It may sound a small thing but all these small things collectively make a big thing. The big thing is the game. Tactically I learned a different level.”
“It was a pity. We got 86 points that season at Liverpool (2008-2009 season – 4 points behind – you guessed it – Manchester United) — the most amount of points for a team finishing second.”
“The team that season was one of the best I’ve worked with. It was a shame — the Premier League was a huge goal for us.”
One recent example of Rafa’s high standards is that he’s not too happy Newcastle have not signed any players over the last two to three weeks when we had three or four them lined up and close to signing.
Rafa will not stay quiet and accept any mediocrity and will soon be talking to Lee Charnley about what has happened and the two of them together will try to work out what has gone wrong and try to fix the problems.
Hopefully we can still get some good players in this week.
That’s exactly what Newcastle need to do right now.
Comments welcome.
98 comments so far
Tsunki
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:21 PM
Comment #81Urgghhhh…. Didn’t say that the strips were going to be changed, i just illustrated the gambling mentality of the far East in relation to.my tenuous connection. Chill, folks, we won’t be in red and blue stripes any time soon 🙂
GeordieTwo
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:26 PM
Comment #82We need facts Tsunki mate! What colours are the strips going to be? Who was the mysterious man with paper bag on head? Where is the rocket powered wheeled bobsled? Where is beermonkey hiding? Get us some facts mate and I’ll do an exclusive interview with you. Harrumph……
GeordieTwo
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:27 PM
Comment #83Trying to get some facts around here. Like pulling teeth. Harrumph I say!!!
beermonkey
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:28 PM
Comment #84i am here
Ibizatoon
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:29 PM
Comment #85Have the club said anything official about Justin Barnes?
Ibizatoon
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:29 PM
Comment #86I’m not. I’m there.
Bobbybee
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:31 PM
Comment #87I think Palace have hit lucky with De Boer(?) as gaffer. Which means that crazy stat of there being more ex-Barcelona players managing in the PL than Englishmen becomes reality. So the radio tells me, but I believe them this time. 🙂
That’s another top manager for Rafa to pit his wits against. No doubt if he does well he’ll be gone next season! Un-lucky.
santon3
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:35 PM
Comment #88I don’t really know how the news that Rafa unhappy got out. I don’t see he or anyone from the club made comments or announcements anywhere, where the f@ck this news came from?
Ibizatoon
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Comment #89Bobby…I wanted De Boer a few years back.
Do you know what went down at Inter (I think that’s where he went after Ajax anyway?!?)? Didn’t he get fired within a few months or something?
Belfast
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:51 PM
Comment #90Some people just have trouble understanding your posts Skunki.
What went down Ibiza ?? Cool man cool.
I think he was basically sacked pretty early on and he blamed it on not having a full pre season with his players. Inter Milan have sacked a stack a managers the last few seasons to be fair to him.
Belfast
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:54 PM
Comment #91I think he was appointed pretty late in the summer.
Ibizatoon
Jun 26, 2017 at 6:55 PM
Comment #92Belfast…Do you object to my use of “what went down”?
Would you like me to put it another way?
Is anyone aware of the events that took place that lead to the firing of said De Boer from Inter Milan? Pompous enough? 🙂
That sounds fair enough. It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on.
Btw, I’m asking Ed to add bunions to his list of exiled topics of conversation along with politics.
Belfast
Jun 26, 2017 at 7:00 PM
Comment #93Absolutely marvelous old boy tally ho.
They aren’t really bunions like just dead skin shaped like golf balls.
The next bloke after De Boer got the boot as well for what it’s worth.
Ibizatoon
Jun 26, 2017 at 7:05 PM
Comment #94Belfast…So you’ve been spreading fake news about bunions?
It’s not worth much, but thanks for the info anyway.
How about this Justin Barnes? Any news there?
A side note, how bad things have become when I’m actually asking Belfast for info.
welshgeordie9
Jun 26, 2017 at 7:07 PM
Comment #95Still no signings unbelievable, doesn’t matter who’s in charge, whether it’s Benitez, mourinho, wenger, Klopp or wenger, it will still be and will always be when it comes to transfers, same shite different day.
Jib
Jun 26, 2017 at 7:07 PM
Comment #96FORM 10. GENERAL FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES
I see that bairn who posted that fatuous comment about Form 10 being a money laundering scam has done one.
Dear lord it’s bad enough with adult idiots like Mr Tuff posting nonsense, without kids getting in on the act.
welshgeordie9
Jun 26, 2017 at 7:08 PM
Comment #97But I hope Rafa kicks arse.
Ibizatoon
Jun 26, 2017 at 7:09 PM
Comment #98Fear not, Jib and Welsh are here!
So, Belfast….