Being reported on a few other sites that Pako had a major falling out with Rafa yesterday and is either gone or going Horrendous news if this is true, he & Rafa worked as one for 10 years and the work that he puts into the fitness / preparational side of things cannot be underestimated
I don't & it wasn't It was originally reported by someone I never heard of but as the rumour gathered pace, 2 x seperate people with connections to the club have backed up the story including one who has had the best "insider" track record on the net for the past couple of years Guess time will tell, hopefully i tiw wrong but looks as though there's at least something to it
Confirmed .......... Bascombe, Liverpool Echo LIVERPOOL Assistant Manager Pako Ayesteran is set to leave Anfield after a series of disagreements with manager Rafa Benitez. The Anfield No. 2 is understood to have left club on immediate leave after matters between the two men came to a head yesterday afternoon. It is understood tensions between the pair - who have been close colleagues for the last decade - have been brewing for several months. Matters finally reached a critical point at the Melwood training ground yesterday when it's understood Ayesteran indicated he was longer interested in working for Liverpool. It is understood he will officially leave the club shortly once administrative issues around his contract are resolved. A series of disagreements are believed to have contributed to the break-up of the partnership. Ayesteran has had full control over the training and preparation of the squad and there were alterations made during pre-season which led to the disagreements. It is not believed Ayesteran has an alternative offer under consideration. However, he was linked with Athletic Bilbao during the summer and Liverpool supporters will be hoping rumours of interest from Manchester United and Chelsea in Ayesteran's services are no more than speculation. Benitez will now have to begin the process of replacing a man credited with much of the background work behind a successful rebuilding of Liverpool. Ayesteran is know for his skills in technical and physical areas, including fitness techniques and sports science. The back room staff which Benitez brought with him when he arrived from Valencia three years ago has now effectively broken up, with former coach Paco Herrera and goalkeeping coach Jose Ochotorena also recent departures for entirely different, amicable reasons.
This is disasterous! The players will have to adapt to new training/fitness methods when the new man comes in. This can only unsettle them. Talk about rocking the boat, everything seemed to be going so well this season too. Would really kick Rafa when he's down if he went to the Scum or Chavs! There has to have been some serious disagreements which is strange senn as the've worked together for so long, you would think they would be on the same wavelength. Cheerio Pako
Thanks for re-posting it Paddy, some people might not have read the original one an hour ago 3 posts back Rumours stirring that some players compaining about too much physical work, Rafa tweaked the training to include less physical & more ballwork & Pako didn't like it Just hope the link to the Scum is bulls#it though, they only lost their fitness coach to Madrid during the summer
oops didn't see that but just reading the article, if its over changes to the training - we have made a really good start after these changes. dunno who would get the job? maybe gary mac, his name always seems to be mentioned when a job with us comes up. would be good to get someone who could learn from rafa and eventually take over the job whenever rafa decides to leave
On the lfc.tv message boards the Mods are having a nightmare with the amount of Pako threads asking why the club hasn't released a statement. PaddyB it could be a case of Return of the Mac, Gary Mac
It would be a shame if he is gone. But, Gary Mac....that would be enough to make it all ok. What a motivator!
Would love to see Gary Mac back at Anfield but unless he re-structures the background team I don't think he would be suitable as a direct replacement for Pako. He could bring in a first team coach & a fitness coach though - Rafa likes his possabiliteess
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/ looking at this as well as Pako we have 2 other fitness coaches and 4 or 5 Physios
remember stevie G in a interview a few weeks back stating that the pre season training had differed from last seasons, with less emphasis on long sessions to shorter ones and with more work done with ball work. If this is was a called made by rafa and pako didn't like it then its just tough. I think its the correct call. Lets face it, you can have the fittest team in the world but if they are not using the ball constructively then they are useless. Its sad if true as I am sure they had a great friendship but things will move on and there is a host of people who would be willing to work with us in this field.
Quote from Rafa via BBC site, i don't know how legit this is "Benitez said: "Paco has told me he wants to leave, apart from that I cannot say any more. We will have to assess the situation." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6971774.stm and from Teamtalk... http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1776_2698042,00.html he is gone for definite
Don't think it's a major problem to be honest. Obviously there's been a falling out but I'm sure Rafa has his reasons for any disagreements etc that have taken place. Hopefully though it's not the sign of more widespread unrest and disharmony with the camp and is just a personal matter between the two.