Benitez out to thwart his protege

RAFA BENITEZ has vowed to outwit the trusted friend he helped become Southampton manager.

Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino worked as a coach under Benitez at Liverpool for two years and at Inter Milan.

As a player he was coached by Benitez at Liverpool in 2005 and they also spent six years together at Valencia.

Newcastle boss Benitez admitted: “This is a special situation. It is strange.

“He knows everything about me because he was my player and assistant.

“If you wanted to say something or change something, he would know already what I planned to