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| NEWS STORY |
RAFA: MY 'CLOSE TO PERFECT' ASSISTANT
Jimmy Rice
12 May 2009
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Rafa Benitez today labelled Sammy Lee the 'close to perfect' number two - and admitted his motivational skills have played a big part in Liverpool's title charge this season.
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Lee returned to Melwood last summer after five years away and has helped take the championship to the wire for the first time under Benitez.
"Sammy is someone every player respects," the boss told Liverpoolfc.tv. "He is very positive and is always pushing. He is a great motivator, so it was a very good addition.
"He is a person who knows the club and he's doing a really good job.
"I don't know any manager who is the perfect manager, so no number two can be perfect. But if you ask me if he is close to being the perfect number two then I think he is.
"The only thing he can improve a little bit is his English!"
The Scouser's first season back has coincided with Liverpool's most successful title challenge since winning the old First Division in 1990.
The festive period saw him take a leading role on the bench as Benitez recovered from a series of kidney stone operations.
One of the less publicised changes Benitez and Lee have introduced has been decorating Melwood and the Anfield tunnel with images of the club's all-time greats, as well as inspirational quotes from the likes of Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona.
While keen to highlight Lee's contribution, Benitez also reserved praise for four more unsung heroes in the backroom team: first-team coach Mauricio Pellegrino, fitness coach Paco De Miguel, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and technical analyst Dave McDonough.
"We are really pleased with Sammy, but also with other members of the staff like Mauricio, Paco, Xavi and Dave - they're all working very hard," he said.
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