; I almost slapped Rafa Benitez - Ex Liverpool goalkeeper Dudek - Report Minds I almost slapped Rafa Benitez - Ex Liverpool goalkeeper Dudek | Report Minds

I almost slapped Rafa Benitez - Ex Liverpool goalkeeper Dudek

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Former Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek reflects the day he almost punched his then boss Rafa Benitez in the face.




Dudek said he clashed with his manager after he signed Pepe Reina as his new first-choice goalkeeper ahead of him. 

Dudek was No 1 spot at Anfield during the time and he was usually the man to look up to when it comes to saving the goal. 

'Pepe was a great guy, but Rafa had signed a new goalkeeper at a moment when I felt like I was at the peak of my career,' Dudek told FourFourTwo. 'I told Rafa that the World Cup was on the horizon and I needed to be playing football.

'Cologne were interested, but a few days before the window closed, they called and said: "Why is Rafa not even talking to us?" I was surprised – I thought everything had been agreed.

'The next day, I stormed up to him after training. He said: "They only offered a loan deal, and you're too important for us. They want to give us £800,000, but what if Reina gets an injury? I can't put £800,000 in a suitcase and put it between the goalposts."

'Then I had this crazy thought – I think I'll just punch him in the face. This evil whisper in my head was telling me that if I hit Rafa, they'd let me go to Cologne.

'Looking back today, I appreciate even more that I played for a club with the history of Liverpool. Last year, I went to Madrid with my son and watched Liverpool win the Champions League again.

'As a player, I never understood why supporters cried after big wins – but when I saw the players running around with the cup in their hands, I had tears in my eyes.'

If you recall, Dudek saved Liverpool in the historic comeback to beat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.



The former Poland goalkeeper retired from football in 2011 with Real Madrid being his last club. 

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