Found this reassuring having just read the SL post on the Squad, Formations thread which was a bit unsettling, to say the least...
From the official site:
GERRARD: MY BOND WITH RAFA
Paul Hassall 07 December 2008
Steven Gerrard has hailed Rafael Benitez as one of the best managers in the world and revealed he has the perfect relationship with the Kop boss.
The Reds skipper feels the Spaniard's man-management has helped nurture a strong team spirit within the Anfield camp and believes his passion for all-things football has seen him develop into one of the game's most accomplished tacticians.
"Rafa is obsessed with football 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Gerrard.
"You have to take your hat off to him. He's one of the best managers there is.
"Rafa is the type that when you finish a game as man of the match having scored three goals, he won't even mention it. Instead, he'll mention that you never used your left foot at a certain point!
"But Rafa does it right. When I need a pat on the back I get it.
"I have had lots of 'well dones' from him, but when I need a kick up the backside I get it too.
"He can also make me laugh, but you don't see that side of him - or me - from the outside.
"We spend a lot of time together on the training ground, travelling to matches and he joins in. We've got a great team spirit here and my relationship with him is perfect."
The skipper celebrated 10 years in the Liverpool first-team last month, and while he loves being able to pull on the red shirt every weekend, he admits he still takes any defeat personally.
"I love being a Liverpool player, being captain, living the dream," he said. "I wouldn't change it for the world. But sometimes there's that much at stake.
"Sometimes you want it so bad you can only really enjoy it when you get the right result.
"I've never really thought during a game: 'I'm really enjoying this.'
"When it's 0-0 or we're losing it's like: 'Let's get the win and get out of here.'
"It's the same for the fans. If they say they enjoy it I bet they only mean at the final whistle when they've got the result.
"I take any defeat home with me. I'm not the same person until the next game. Luckily we win a lot or I'd be a nightmare to be with."
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