Fulham v Chelsea: Benitez Talks About Alonso and Arbeloa
Listen to the story
Fulham faced Chelsea in a Premier League match, and former Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez spoke about two of his ex-players.
Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa both played for Benitez during his coaching career. Now, they are managers themselves.
Benitez shared his thoughts on how his former players have developed into coaches in the game.
The comments came as part of the build-up to the Fulham v Chelsea game, which included live team news and commentary.
Fans followed the match with score updates and reports as the game happened.
Benitez managed Chelsea in the past, so he knows the club well.
His connection to Alonso and Arbeloa comes from working with them earlier in his career.
The Premier League often sees former players move into management after they stop playing.
Coverage of the match gave fans a chance to see how the game developed, with regular updates throughout.
Benitez's comments added extra interest to the match for football fans who remember his time in charge of Chelsea.
Vocabulary10 words
- Premier League
- the top football competition in England
- coaching
- training and leading a sports team
- coach
- another word for a team manager
- commentary
- spoken description of a game as it happens
- management
- the job of leading a team
- update
- new information about something happening
- former
- someone who used to have a role, but not now
- career
- the years someone spends working in a job
- build-up
- the time before an event, when people prepare or talk about it
- in charge
- having control or leadership of something
Quiz
Answer key
1. They used to play for him 2. Managers 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Fulham faced Chelsea in a _____ match, and former Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez spoke about two of his ex-players.
Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa both played for Benitez during his _____ career. Now, they are managers themselves.
Benitez shared his thoughts on how his former players have developed into _____ in the game.
The comments came as part of the build-up to the Fulham v Chelsea game, which included live team news and _____.
Fans followed the match with score _____ and reports as the game happened.
Benitez managed Chelsea in the _____, so he knows the club well.
His connection to Alonso and Arbeloa comes from working with them earlier in his _____.
The Premier League often sees former players move into _____ after they stop playing.
Coverage of the match gave fans a chance to see how the game developed, with regular _____ throughout.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think former players often become managers after they retire?
- What skills might a player learn during their career that help them as a manager?
- Do you think experienced managers like Benitez give useful advice to younger coaches?
- Have you ever followed a live football match through commentary and updates? What was that experience like?