"I got to know Rafa prior to a Sporting Breakfast organised as a monthly event by Europa Press. It was the night before, at dinner, which was like a reunion of life-long friends when in fact it was the first time we had met.

Of course it was as part of a press conference but I was meeting a person who was warm and informative when relating his experiences like the historic Champions League Final against AC Milan. This person won me over. The other Rafa is the coach, who I had also admired from a distance because he has always maximised the resources at his disposal at all of the clubs he has worked for. Whilst researching for the Breakfast,I also discovered that, in a world where there are still coaches who rule by using the whip, Rafa uses method, dialogue and many hours of studying to achieve success and respect, two virtues out of the reach of many and which undoubtedly put him at the top with the best coaches in the world".