Rafa Benitez's Dalian Pro fall to BOTTOM of their group in Chinese Super League

Rafa Benitez’s Dalian Pro fall to BOTTOM of their group in Chinese Super League after they go five games without a win at the start of the new season as former Liverpool boss watches on draped in a towel to combat stifling heat

  • Rafa Benitez has hit rock bottom with Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang
  • They have dropped to eighth place in group A, with two points and five losses
  • The 60-year-old signed for £12m but is yet to secure three points this season 
  • Benitez’s side most recently lost 1-0 to Guangzhou R&F thanks to a penalty

Rafa Benitez has hit rock bottom with Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang as they drop to the bottom of group A.

The Champions League winning boss – who penned a huge £12million-a-year deal with the club following his departure from Newcastle United- has suffered five defeats in a row since.

With the new season underway five months later than expected due to the coronavirus pandemic, Benitez’s men have fallen to eighth place with just two points – having won none, drawn two and lost five.

Manager Rafa Benitez has hit rock bottom with Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang

Manager Rafa Benitez has hit rock bottom with Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang

The CSL has been split in two groups in Suzhou and Dalian to prevent infections, however, Benitez’s side would still sit just one place of bottom if the two groups were combined.

Dalian were most recently defeated by Guangzhou R&F – thanks to Israeli international striker Eran Zahavi who converted from the penalty spot.

In the post match interview, Benitez said: ‘We needed to have the calm to take the chances that we had,’ he said in the post-match interview.

Benitez signed a huge £12m-a-year deal but has failed to secure a win for them this season

Benitez signed a huge £12m-a-year deal but has failed to secure a win for them this season

Benitez's side most recently lost 1-0 to Guangzhou R&F thanks to a penalty from Eran Zahavi

Benitez’s side most recently lost 1-0 to Guangzhou R&F thanks to a penalty from Eran Zahavi

‘As I said many times, it’s a young team and we have to learn from our mistakes and keep working, that’s it, you cannot do too much (else).’

Prior to the game both sides were looking for their first win of the season, however, it was R&F who emerged victorious. 

The former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss has only won seven of his 22 matches since being appointed as manager in July last year.

Having once been hailed from his Champions League glory with Liverpool in 2005, Benitez is now in his worst form to date.

The 60-year-old is currently providing his worst points per game average since being sacked by Real Valladolid in 1996 after two wining just two games in 23 outings.

source: dailymail.co.uk