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Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has said that Rafael Benitez's failed stint at Inter was not entirely his fault.

Benitez was sacked by the Italian and European champions after they won the Club World Cup in December in the wake of his ultimatum in which he demanded January reinforcements.

Del Bosque, though, believes that the former Valencia and Liverpool manager could have succeeded in Italy.

“Benitez is a great trainer. His career speaks for itself," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“His only fault is that of not having had reinforcements, but rather only injuries and the injuries are certainly not his fault.”

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Labels: Benitez, Bosque, coach, defends, Goalcom, Rafael, Spain, Vicente

Tottenham ace Rafael Van der Vaart expects an "open" battle against Milan in the Champions League as he warns the Italians to get ready for serious conflict at San Siro.

Van der Vaart will be spurred on by their group stage performance against Inter, and he feels they can rock San Siro again after narrowly losing out in Italy last time they played there.

"It's a very open game, but we beat Inter [at White Hart Lane] and we know we can beat Milan," van der Vaart told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Plus, playing at home in the second leg gives us a massive advantage. I think everyone is scared of coming to White Hart Lane."

The former Real Madrid man has settled magnificently in England, and believes the Premier League is the best of the European leagues.

"This championship is more varied compared to La Liga because there you only have Real Madrid and Barcelona," he said.

"Tottenham are a side who play good football and we have many great players.

"If we play together for a few years we can become a great team."?
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Labels: champions, Goalcom, league, Milan, Rafael, Tottenhams, Vaart