Fergie/Rafa feud hits the headlines again
Rafa's under fire
By Chris,
April 17 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson's bitter feud with Rafa Benitez has taken another twists this week. Fergie has backed-up critical comments from Sam Allardyce's after the Blackburn boss claimed he was offended at gestures Benitez made after his side opened-up a two-goal lead over the Ewood Park club on the weekend.
Allardyce told the press that he found gestures made by Benitez "humiliating" after Fernando Torres headed the Scousers into a commanding 2-0 lead at Anfield.
Liverpool went onto win the game by a more-than-comfortable 4-0 scoreline - but after the Scousers' second goal, Benitez shrugged his shoulders and waved his hands as if to suggest the three points were in the bag.
Allardyce was fuming and the former Bolton boss made his feelings clear to the media: "The game is hard enough as it is without a fellow manager's undermining gesture."
Fergie was quick to back-up Allardyce, and added: "You cannot forgive contempt, which is what he showed Sam Allardyce last weekend.
"When Liverpool scored their second goal he signalled as if the game was finished. I do not think Sam deserved that. Sam has worked so hard for the LMA (League Managers' Association) and he's had a weakened team.
"I just thought it showed contempt. In my experience no Liverpool manager has ever done that. It was beyond the pale."
It's not very often you'll hear me sticking up for dear old whinging Rafa - but this does seem to be a fuss about the nothing. To be fair, there's no universal gesture for "we've won, stop trying" - but, let's be honest, the hostilities between Sir Alex and Benitez are so intense that the pair could probably start a media war over whether or not they like Marmite.
Ferguson quite rightly slammed Benitez for another reason, too. Rafa previously labelled Everton a "small club" - but Fergie has heaped praise on United's Cup semi-final opponents, declaring that "Everton are a big club, not a small one which Benitez arrogantly said."
Fergie's latest comments help stoke the fire of a thrilling title race. United currently lead the Scousers by a single point as they aim to capture an eighteenth league title.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
The war of words continues but there wil only be one winner!!
Liverpool play Hull, Newcastle, the Hammers, Baggies and Spurs. A nice run-in for sure but I'm certain they'll drop points regardless.