Steven Gerrard’s comments on Rafa Benitez prove he’s exactly what Celtic need

Steven Gerrard’s comments on Celtic’s incoming boss Rafa Benitez show he is exactly what the Hoops need right now.

The Spaniard is reportedly set to take Neil Lennon’s job at the Scottish Premiership champions, which would see him come up against his former captain in the Rangers manager.

He would arrive at a tough time for the Hoops, who are 23 points behind Gerrard’s unbeaten side in the league and out of the Europa League.

Failing to secure a win in their last four games, fans have been left infuriated at their side’s lacklustre performances.

But Gerrard, who won the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup with the Spaniard, has previously suggested that Benitez’s approach would get them on track again.

Speaking to the Official Champions League Magazine as a player under the 60-year-old, the Rangers boss said: “Rafa is obsessed with football 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“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 done’s 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 at the moment.”

And the feeling is mutual between the two managers, with Benitez saying on Gerrard’s appointment in 2018: “His understanding of the game is good.

"He has had different managers, foreign managers, British managers, so he will have seen different visions, which is important.”

The Spaniard sparked speculation of an arrival at Celtic Park after leaving his job with Chinese Super League side Dalian Pro.

He arrived in Asia having spent three years with Newcastle as well as spells at Inter, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid since leaving Anfield.

But Benitez’s potential move to Scotland may have have already caused Gerrard a problem.

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