"Liverpool have got the right man," he says. "It is an inspired choice. I don't know where they came up with him from, because English clubs don't tend to look towards Spain, even though it is probably the best league in the world at the moment. But believe me, this man is the genuine article. He is no mirage.
"Honestly, he has performed absolute miracles with Valencia, and under difficult circumstances as well. I know he's not had it easy there with the club going against his wishes quite a few times and yet he has won two titles in three years and that takes some doing. People say he inherited a good side, and it's true they were in the Champions League Final the season before he arrived.
"But what people forget is he lost his three world-class players from that team in the summer. Unbelievably, Benitez was under quite a bit of pressure when he first arrived at Valencia because he didn't have a massive reputation. But he won the title in his first year, and now there are tears and despair from the fans that he has left."