Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has jumped to the defence of Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez.
Benitez is under pressure amid reports of a locker room rift.
But Liverpool ace Mascherano says: “Benitez rescued me from a deep dark well twenty metres underground and helped me get to the very top. We've kept in touch even when we've been with different teams. He's a great person and a manager you can learn a lot from, if you really want to."
He says that his relationship with Rafa “hasn't changed" although the current situation has made things “a bit uncomfortable", but affirms “one day I'll leave Barça, or he'll leave Madrid and everything will go back to normal. We still talk but not as often as before."