Overview
- Benitez said, "Ronaldo is perhaps the best finisher, but Salah is more complete," when asked to choose between the two forwards.
- He stated his Real Madrid exit was due to internal club issues rather than any conflict with Cristiano Ronaldo and praised the Portuguese as an extraordinary player.
- He identified Steven Gerrard as the best player he has coached, calling him a powerful, complete, box-to-box midfielder with elite versatility.
- Benitez’s stint coaching Ronaldo at Real Madrid lasted seven months before his dismissal in January 2016.
- He acknowledged he has not worked directly with Mohamed Salah, yet still judged the Liverpool winger the more rounded player.