Premier League - Benitez slams cash-obsessed City

Eurosport - Fri, 10 Jul 08:49:00 2009

Rafael Benitez unveiled new boy Glen Johnson and then took a swipe at Manchester City with their "money, money, money" approach to the transfer market.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Liverpool Rafa Benitez - 0

The Liverpool boss has spent £17 million on the England full-back, a large chunk of which is wiped out by the cash Portsmouth still owe the Anfield club from the Peter Crouch deal. And while Benitez played hardball with Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano over their long-term futures, he accepts that the market was now "crazy" and dominated by money.

Benitez, who admitted he had tried again to sign Gareth Barry this summer from Aston Villa, said: "We had to pay big money, the market is now crazy. It is all money, money, money now. But we were signing a good player, an England player, and that is very positive."

He added: "He has a good mentality, and when I spoke to him first it was clear he wanted to come here.

"Things have changed. You have to adapt to a situation. Manchester City and big clubs in Europe are spending big money, so the market has changed and we have to work harder.

"You have to do that to stay at the level we are at because of the big money being spent here and abroad."

City also wanted Johnson, but Benitez said: "It was difficult, some clubs are offering big money. But he wanted to come here, that was the difference.

"We did go back again for Barry, but as I said. it is all about money, money, money. It is as simple as that."

On City's influence on the market and their prospects for next term, Benitez added: "City have signed a lot of good players, but that is no guarantee they will win anything. But it will be interesting to see what happens next season.

"But whatever happens, experience is more important and we feel that we have that to be in the top positions. If you spend big it is always easier to perform well. But when you have a good understanding between players that is also important. If they are together, they work hard, that is just as important."

PA Sport

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  1. I never thought I would agree with a fat spanish­ waiter, but he's absouletly right. Gareth Barry=One­ Greedy very average @#$%. Tevez needs to wake up too,­ going to Eastland Dog Kennel is a major step backwards­ as career moves go. Re-think, Stay at United.

    From neil, on Sat 11 Jul 10:54AM

  2. has benitez only just realized that football is all­ about money lol you cant stay in the premiership­ without millions to spend on player.even the bottom­ teams have more money than all the championship clubs

    From James, on Sat 11 Jul 9:26AM

  3. people that say FACT after they spout some nonsensical­ twaddle are knobs, i also include the use of omg as a­ moronic habit

    From paul, on Sat 11 Jul 9:16AM

  4. Chelsea is world famous! I don't know about Chelsea­ FC yet.. If you take away Abramovich wat will happen­ to Chelsea?

    From bryjones71, on Sat 11 Jul 9:07AM

  5. 462 chelsea are world famous , trust me ! it is only in­ liverpool they find it hard to comprehend , they will­ wake up one day and realise ,that over the last twenty­ five years while liverpool have been laying dorment­ ,chelsea have been beavering away at trying to improve­ ! they are all but there now so get over it, and watch­ the blue juggernaught trundle through europe,you can­ whinge (like benites )all you like ,if you think­ liverpool have a devine rite to be the best(like most­ scousers do) then think again , furthermore man city­ will also rais their profile considerably in the next­ few seasons, liverpool have tried to buy the title and­ failed ! their one and only chance was last year !!­ FACT

    From handyandyisalways, on Sat 11 Jul 8:54AM

  6. Barry said he wanted to play Champs League football.­ Now, how is he going to do that joining ManCity?­ Therefore it can be assumed that he is only in for the­ money. Can't really blame him cos he's not­ going to be forever young but to imply that he wants to­ play Champs League is a hypocritical statement.

    From GI Joe 323, on Sat 11 Jul 8:54AM

  7. Steven Ireland is a far better player than Barry anyway­ maybe the reds should try to buy him instead!!!

    From Steven, on Sat 11 Jul 8:37AM

  8. Well Barry did say he wanted Champions leauge football­ and would wait to see if Villa got top 4 and ECL­ football if not he wanted to join a top 4 side before­ he go to old to play in the ECL City offer to treble­ wis wages to over 100 k a week. Like the Average­ Bellamy Bridge ect all on over 100k a week and pro wont­ get a game next season. Hughes will buy a couple of big­ name midfielders in the winter or next summer and Barry­ will find himself playing for Wigan or the like. When­ city can offer Eto 300k a week and pay tax on it then­ its fair to say mone talks in football now, and it was­ a fair comment to make.

    From Steven, on Sat 11 Jul 8:30AM

  9. Thats true ooahhcantona ! But maybe the money city is­ willing to pay him has a bit to do with it also?

    From bryjones71, on Sat 11 Jul 8:19AM

  10. Stop moaning,it`s a free world,Barry would rather play­ for City than liverpool just as Johnson went to­ Liverpool rather than Chelsea.

    From Dallas, on Sat 11 Jul 8:08AM

  11. Benitez is becoming as bad if not worse than winger­ Wenger in the moaning stakes. Does anybody respect him­ now? Apparently the Liverpool fans and players­ don't

    From peterdlindley, on Sat 11 Jul 5:45AM

  12. you damn right 472....he is not going to get anything­ this season, next season , nor any season, teams are­ getting stronger...liverpool needs strikers like Barnes­ and Ian rush...not just fancy dude with a hair do...no­ offence torres but u r in the wrong place...

    From taatz23, on Sat 11 Jul 2:06AM

  13. the Spanish whinging t. wat is at it before season even­ starts

    From LES, on Sat 11 Jul 12:13AM

  14. Pete H,

    Agreed. I mean in the end the winner takes it­ all!

    From Winston Bunn, on Fri 10 Jul 10:28PM

  15. The whole Liverpool ideology is based on an extremely­­ bad 60's pop song!!

    I find that very amusing Ho­­ Bl'oody Ho Sigh!!

    From Pete H, on Fri 10 Jul 9:40PM

  16. fact benitez a lunatic lol we all agree barry a greedy­ @#$% going to city but he should no better just­ concentrate on what you got you just come across as a­ fat spanish waiter

    From DAMIEN D, on Fri 10 Jul 9:13PM

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  18. 464 you talk like a @#$% er ! try farting it might make­ more sense

    From lemontreesid, on Fri 10 Jul 5:17PM

  19. Blimey, the sour faced spaniard is whinging again,­ someone give him his dummy back....

    From Andrew A, on Fri 10 Jul 1:59PM

  20. People aren't saying he shouldn't spend 18m on­ a defender but it is the Liverpool fans claiming rafa­ hasn't spent anything, end of the day you have­ spent a lot of money in last 3 years and won nothing.­ United in last 3 years have spent perhaps slightly more­ but have won 6 trophies. If Liverpool had of spent 30m­ + on one good player rather than 40m + on a few ok­ players they might be champions by now. for example­ trade in Keane 20m, Babel 11.5m, Pennant 7m, Bellamy­ 6.5m, dossena 7m and last summer you could of bought­ Villa, silva instead of these flops and would of prob­ won something!

    From supertrin47, on Fri 10 Jul 1:52PM
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