John Arne Riise has revealed he was in tears after being forced out of Liverpool by manager Rafa Benitez in 2008, a decision he has long regretted. The Norwegian left-back, who spent seven seasons at Anfield, was told to leave just days after his infamous own goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final.
Speaking on his personal blog in 2015, Riise admitted: 'I should have stayed. I know I would have taken the place from Andrea Dossena.' The defender made 348 appearances for the Reds and won the Champions League in 2005, but was informed Benitez planned to sign Dossena as his replacement.
Riise said he was devastated by the news. 'I went to the car, cried a little bit by myself. Called my agent, cried to him. It was such a shock as I'd been there for seven seasons,' he told talkSPORT. Despite his exit, Riise insisted he does not blame Benitez for the own goal influencing the decision, stating: 'I honestly think that the own goal didn't affect Rafa's decision.'
The former full-back reflected that he wished Benitez had been more open about his position in the team. 'If he as my manager told me I needed to step it up, I would have done everything in my power to do so. I was blind and didn't see it. But I love Rafa, he gave me the best night of my life in Istanbul,' Riise wrote.
Riise later joined Fulham in 2011, having initially turned down the club at age 20 to sign for Liverpool. He described the choice as 'quite easy' and has no regrets about that decision.
