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. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FACKUN 5 NAY.

    From Donney, on Fri 10 Jul 8:41AM

  2. ""his confidense far outways his ability­ as­ a football manager ""

    Hmmmm Rafa­ Benitez's abilities as a football­ manager?

    Let's see.

    2 x La Ligas.

    1 x Champions­ League.

    1 x UEFA Cup.

    1 x FA Cup.

    That's pretty­ good going and his record in England is improving. 2­ place last year was admirable, considering he­ doesn't have the funds available that Man Utd and­ Chelsea do.

    From Kim S, on Fri 10 Jul 8:39AM

  3. thats how loyaly LFC are now shut the fu ck up about­ loyalty and hitory they have pulled strokes like this­ over the years and tried to dweep it under the carpet !­ slimeballs

    From lemontreesid, on Fri 10 Jul 8:35AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE MAY HOO DAY YEES FINK­ YEES UR? HA? HOO? 4 THAMBS DOON JAST FAE TELLAN YEES­ ABOOT A FACKAN MOOSE. JAST YEES STAP BEAN SA FACKAN­ AGNARANT.

    From Donney, on Fri 10 Jul 8:34AM

  5. Waiter, more paella pour favor!

    From Sid, on Fri 10 Jul 8:34AM

  6. found out why he said it last night lol he missed out­ on barry

    From Paul T, on Fri 10 Jul 8:27AM

  7. Well said 407,jimmy rice.its nice to see someone on the­ site thats not their to cut every bodys throat..I wish­ people would READ before they jump on the­ bandwagon,,,Well said,,,A lot of these sites now are­ just slanging matches between one or two dead­ beats,Donney to name one!!!!!

    From Marge Simpson., on Fri 10 Jul 8:26AM

  8. Browse Home / Headlines / Benitez dismisses 16­ backroom staff Benitez dismisses 16 backroom staff
    June­ 7, 2009 · Discuss
    Liverpool are set to face a legal­ backlash after Rafa Benitez fired sixteen backroom­ staff.

    The club sacked 10 Academy personnel last week­ and within the past few days, six-other long serving­ employees have been told to leave.

    Liverpool have not­ given the staff any reasons however, it is believed­ that Benitez wants to bring in most of his former­ coaches at Valencia.

    A source at Anfield said: “You’ve­ heard of the night of the long knives. This is more­ like two weeks of it and it may not be finished­ yet.

    “Rafa wants a clean sweep, but some of the staff­ won’t go quietly and are taking legal advice. Some of­ them don’t even feel they’ve been told why they’re­ going.”

    SACKED BACKROOM STAFF:
    Gary Ablett - Reserve­ team manager (2 years)
    Piet Hamburg - Academy director­ (2 years)
    Hugh McAuley - Under 18 coach (20 years)
    Dave­ Shannon - Under-16 coach (20 years)
    Paul Lever -­ Under-14 coach (18 years)
    Billy Stewart - Academy­ goalkeeper coach (10 years)
    Norman Gard - Players’­ liaison officer (15 years)
    Tim Divine - Education­ officer (15 years)
    John Wright - Kit man (15­ years)
    Victor Salinas - Physio (4 years)
    Gerard Nus -­ Sports scientist (2 years)
    Angel Vales - Sports­ scientist (1 year)
    Simon Farnworth - Academy physio (10­ years)
    John Coburn - Academy physio (8 years)
    Jan de­ Koning - Assistant academy director (2 years)
    Tim­ Dittmar - Academy goalkeeper coach (8 years

    From lemontreesid, on Fri 10 Jul 8:26AM

  9. What a douche

    From Theo H, on Fri 10 Jul 8:25AM

  10. I agree with 407 - he hasn't "slammed"­ City I think it is sour grapes because he didn't­ get his man.
    Who says were cash obsessed? Obviously the­ person who wrote the article.
    Media stirring up trouble­ rather than sticking to the facts!

    From uglifrog, on Fri 10 Jul 8:22AM

  11. hold on!! Benitez will have a moan about the amont of­ money being used in the transfer market, but yet he­ will pay over the odds for glen johnson, is he really­ worth £18 million? if he did his home work properly he­ could find 3 defenders for that price and still have­ change just look at united Vidic and the rafel twins­ but no instead of finding a potentialy class player and­ developing them he has spalsed the cash and been ripped­ off

    From Daniel, on Fri 10 Jul 8:20AM

  12. 407 never let the truth get in the way of a good story­ ,everyone chooses to dislike benites anyway! i think­ it's because his confidense far outways his ability­ as a football manager ,and he does come out with some­ drivvel

    From lemontreesid, on Fri 10 Jul 8:20AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ME NAXT DUR NABOR KALLED A MOOUSE LAS NEET. AT MAKS MAY­ SACK JAST FINKIN ABOOT AT. I DINNAE EVAN KIL WAASPS. OM­ THOT FACKANG GUD ME.

    From Donney, on Fri 10 Jul 8:17AM

  14. rafa only said that because he don't have the money­ to spend right now... he will just do the same or even­ more if he gets the backing from the owner for­ spending... just recall, how much did he spent on­ players during his time?? a lot!!

    From SM, on Fri 10 Jul 8:17AM

  15. mancity have gone insane

    From Mike, on Fri 10 Jul 8:14AM

  16. Well said Mmmoose, I just hope Man City break in to the­ top four at Liverpools expense. A couple of years out­ of the Champions League, top players leaving and­ 'hey presto' a new top four without the scouse­ pretenders Liverpool. After that I doubt they'll­ ever win the premier league....ever! A bit like Villa,­ Spurs, Newcastle etc all big clubs but quite big­ enough. These next two or three seasons are make or­ break for Liverpool. They had their big chance last­ season and blew it, big time.

    From Sid, on Fri 10 Jul 8:09AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What an idiot Rafa is. He's probably spent more­ than anyone in the last few seasons.

    From Jimmy B, on Fri 10 Jul 8:08AM

  18. It has always worried me that people allow a headline­ to blind them to the actual content of a statement;­ very dangerous. Why can't you simply read­ Benitez' words and make your own mind up. The press­ are trying to type-cast this man and ost of you are­ falling for it.

    From Jimmy Rice, on Fri 10 Jul 8:03AM

  19. rafs biggest problem started when jose mourinho left­ the premiership because he used to steal the headlines­ ,now the waiter is exposed and unlike in spain the­ press thrive on idiots !! he is perfect for them FACT

    From lemontreesid, on Fri 10 Jul 7:59AM

  20. bryjones71 what a muppet! Beneathus has won two cups­­ both on pens, he's nowhere near Clough, Wenger,­­ Mourinho or Guardiola let alone Shankly or Paisley.
    I­­ find it highly amusing that Beneathus has come out­­ and­ said he disapproves of players who only sign for­­ the­ money! Ha!, ha!, ha! This from a manager whose­ own­­ players haven’t won anything for years, you­ don't­­ think players sign for Liverpool for the­ glory do you?­­ Ha!, ha!, ha!, ha!. What’s the point of­ that? Think­­ again paella breath. Beneathus by name,­ beneath us by­­ nature. I thank you. These words of­ wisdom are brought­­ to you by the Mmmm0000se.

    From Mmmm000se, on Fri 10 Jul 7:59AM
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