I certainly considered Rafa Benitez a success.

Rafa won the Champions League in Istanbul and the FA Cup in Cardiff. In losing to AC Milan in the Champions League final of 2007, I actually thought Liverpool looked better than they did in Istanbul.

People talked about whether Rafa had been given enough money for transfers but the Liverpool board will always give as much as it can.

It’s not in the club’s interests to restrict the manager and the team. All managers would like more. But I felt the board did as much as they could financially for Rafa.

I was still surprised he went. Not too many people felt much resentment towards Rafa for going. The fans supported him because they support the position of the manager at Liverpool. They are loyal to the chair, especially in times of trouble. Rafa certainly wasn’t disliked.

Some of the critics might have perceived him as cold but every time I was with him, we’d have a chuckle, tell a few stories. Rafa’s good company.

It’s important to understand that Rafa Benitez is obsessed with only two things: family and football. After games, Rafa was straight on to the video, analysing play on the way back on the coach. He works an awful lot and takes very little time off.

Maybe he should have rested more, although the fresh challenge of Inter Milan must have felt as good as a holiday for him.

Rafa is not without feeling. He made a fantastic gesture to the Hillsborough Families Support Group with the huge donation he made to help them with their cause.