Former Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera has spoken if his bust-up with Rafa Benitez at Anfield.
Riera angered the now Newcastle United manager with a critical outburst on Spanish radio seven years ago.
"I've been here two years and I know how he (Benítez) is. He's never sorted out a situation with a player by talking with him. He thinks he's in charge and everything else falls on deaf ears. His dialogue with the players is practically nil," Riera snapped at the time.
The Spaniard was fined and transfer listed for his words and revisited the blow-up when speaking with LFCTransferRoom.com this week.
Riera said: “Well I have to say that my relationship with Rafa was always good, just that at that moment I made an interview with the Spanish media, that some words were not what I said, and even if they were true or not Rafa reacted as any Boss in this world should have reacted, because he must be the same with all the players in order for them to have the respect from each other, and is the best for the team.
"In that interview, it was true that I was frustrated because I was not playing as much as I wanted in that time, and I was thinking only in me because 3 months later I had the WorldCup and I needed to play. From one side is normal because all players want to play, but I never attacked Rafa directly saying it was his fault, and they wrote that. Rafa wanted the best for the team, so if I was at my best for sure I was playing more, so thats it.
"A recommendation for any player, first look at yourself, then after that see where is the problem. I learned that from that situation."
Riera, who has been playing in Slovenia, insists he's since mended bridges with Benitez.
He adds: “Regret or not, right or wrong, the most important thing is that you learn from every situation, and I did it. But I bet with anyone right now that no journalist can prove that I said any bad word when talking about my former club. You never hear anything coming from my mouth, so why to put some words from me that I never said In big!
"Thanks Liverpool, I will never give you back what you did for me. Thanks again and I will always support you, and if one day I can help the club from any post, It will be with pleasure."
