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Liverpool boss Benitez turns fire on Man Utd CEO

Mon 12 Jan, 04:48 PM


--AFP/Paul Ellis

AFP/Paul Ellis
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LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, not content with attacking Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson, has now criticised his rivals' chief executive David Gill.

In the build-up to last weekend's matches Benitez stunned English football with a series of comments about what he regards as Ferguson's hypocrisy, bullying of officials and serial whingeing.

And on Monday he accused Gill, also a senior figure at England's governing Football Association, of a conflict of interest.

Premier League leaders Liverpool could only manage a goalless draw with Stoke while English, European and world champions United thrashed title rivals Chelsea 3-0.

Although Ferguson's men are five points behind Liverpool, they could be top of the table by the time of Monday's Merseyside derby if they win their two games in hand this week against Wigan and Bolton.

But Benitez, far from being cowed into silence by recent results, broadened his attack on United.

"They were saying we are a threat. Now they know we are, they are playing mind games," he said.

"But I don't think it's a mind game when you have control over everything; it's a mind game when you have the same level as the other people, then you can show you are cleverer than the others," the Spaniard added.

"But when you have control of everything and your chief executive is powerful in the FA and things like this, then that is not mind games.

"Is there a conflict of interest with David Gill at the FA?

"That is another fact. It is a fact that one person has a lot of power and control, and is on a lot of committees in the FA. To me that is very strange."

Neither the FA nor United have commented.

Ferguson, in a tone that verged towards one of pity, responded to Benitez's initial comments by saying after the Chelsea match: "There was a lot of venom in what he has said and I don't understand where it has come from.

"He is obviously disturbed about something," the Scot added. "When he reflects on it he must realise what a ridiculous thing he is saying."

 

Comment 1 - 20 of 20

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  1. SAF IS THE ONE WHO STARTED THE CONNFLICT, HE IS A @#$% ANBD @#$% RAPING @#$%

    From ANONYMOUS, on Wed 14 Jan 7:31AM

  2. is benitez becoming increasingly scared of united? or is he trying to win epl trophy
    through mind games? blues 4 life.

    From mabou, on Tue 13 Jan 9:33AM

  3. little boys who lose their toys, especially those from foreign soils, cant come here and talk the talk unless we know they walk the walk.

    From Mr Miller, on Tue 13 Jan 8:58AM

  4. i believe strongly this season is belong to liverpool. they can win both EPL and CL. they have shown how good they are even without world best striker and just imagine how many more points he will bring once he play for second half of the season. It is very clear it belong to LFC. MU no chance, since they have won last 2 years, the players desire is not there. you can see how they have been beaten by Derby and majority of their game they won just by luck wirh some ref help. Maybe MU will end up empty hand this season.

    From hanuman340, on Tue 13 Jan 8:51AM

  5. benitez is so scared that he's trying to beat fergie in his own game..
    hes bound to lose though and i think he will get the sack at the end of this season..
    he's trophy winning record is rubbish so its justified..
    and utd are doing the quad this year so dream on scousers..

    From mahesh, on Tue 13 Jan 7:33AM

  6. Dont understand why people blame RAFA, the actual culprit is SAF because he is the one started this dispute and attacking other teams.This idiot SAF should leave EPL for the sake of English Premier League then there will be more talented and honest manager can show their true ability.

    From hanuman340, on Tue 13 Jan 1:43AM

  7. what rafa says is absolute truth. any neutral person knows how much bias going on with MUFC. Yes they won trophy but not on same level playing field. IT is clear, eve 10 years old boy can say the ref are biased to mu. As for Rafa, I salute him for his guts, to bring justice for EPL.

    From hanuman340, on Tue 13 Jan 1:40AM

  8. Fergie is scenile he started this nonsense and for once someone has pointed out home truths it is a shame he forgot to mention FERGIE TIME when Utd are losing six extra minutes of injury time

    From alan.darlow, on Mon 12 Jan 11:41PM

  9. UNITED ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY NO MATTER WHAT THAT NUTTER RAFA SAYS.RAFA SHOULD OF BEEN SACKED YEARS AGO FOR WHAT LIVERPOOL HAVE ACHIEVED UNDER HIM.ANYBODY ELSE WOULD OF GOT THE SACK.A CLUB LIKE LIVERPOOL SHOULD OF WON THE PREMIERSHIP BY NOW BUT THEY JUST AINT GOOD ENOUGH UNITED WIL BE CHAMPIONS YET AGAIN.THERES ONLY ONE SHIP THAT DOES NOT STOP AT LIVERPOOL DOCKS AND THAT IS THE PREMIERSHIP

    From d.kelly613, on Mon 12 Jan 9:50PM

  10. i'd love it, i'd just love it if we beat them. chelsea 1-0 liverpool, title pretty much on a plate for united. benny's rant has just kicked the devls into life.

    From ripped of, on Mon 12 Jan 7:04PM

  11. What a silly man you are Benitez Sir Alex has worked a blinder!!!

    From STEPHEN H, on Mon 12 Jan 6:39PM

  12. this is a funny way of not playing mind games. out of his mind games I reckon

    From simon-roberts, on Mon 12 Jan 6:07PM

  13. Idiot.

    From Charly K, on Mon 12 Jan 6:06PM

  14. I always liked Rafa (I'm a Reds fan) but I have to wonder if it wasn't just his kidney stones which were removed! Please Señor, get back to what you know best.

    From jonfaraday, on Mon 12 Jan 5:54PM

  15. if the fa read this they would laugh at the lfc manager // wonder whos going to take over lfc next season

    From Paul T, on Mon 12 Jan 5:43PM

  16. HE'S RUNNING SCARED.

    From L H, on Mon 12 Jan 5:22PM

  17. another keegan moment from rafa!

    From d.eccles1, on Mon 12 Jan 5:11PM

  18. While he is spouting off about Utd, i wonder who is being lined up to take over his job at Anfield???????

    From Fjk, on Mon 12 Jan 5:07PM

  19. benitez can feel it all sliping away...or he's mad,mind you looking at his team selection sometimes maybe he is just mad. go man-utd!!!!!!!!

    From David, on Mon 12 Jan 5:04PM

  20. I support neither man u or liverpool
    I like Benitez, but i think it's time for Benitez to shut his mouth. enough is enough
    talking too much about the other teams make him look bad.

    From Sam, on Mon 12 Jan 4:53PM
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