Gerrard Backs Up Benitez Excuse

21 April 2009 20:09
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists Rafael Benitez is too focussed on his own team to ever bother antagonising rival managers. The Spaniard came under fire from Sir Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce last week for allegedly showing "arrogance" and "contempt" - in the words of the Manchester United boss - towards his counterparts in the Barclays Premier League. The row stemmed from an ambiguous gesture made by Benitez after the Reds scored their second goal against Allardyce's Blackburn in their 4-0 win on April 11. Sammy Lee, Benitez's assistant, branded the criticism "sad" yesterday, and Gerrard - sitting out Liverpool's clash with Arsenal tonight due to injury - has continued the backlash. Rather than trying to belittle Allardyce and Rovers, the England star insists Benitez was instead joking that his pre-match instructions had been utterly ignored in the build-up to Fernando Torres' headed goal from a Xabi Alonso free-kick. "I was sitting right behind Rafa and I can guarantee that it was in no way trying to disrespect their bench," Gerrard said. "We had the set-pieces up on the board before the game and he'd told Xabi Alonso to do a certain free-kick. "Xabi did the opposite but we managed to score from it, so he was basically saying 'don't listen to me, do your own thing'." The midfielder added: "You can understand why Sam's upset but what I didn't understand was why he didn't speak to Rafa and Sammy Lee about it to clear it up after the game. It wouldn't have been an issue." However the different parties choose to interpret Benitez's arm waving, Gerrard insists it will have no bearing on Liverpool's attempt to claim the title from United. "I don't think it affects the team or the way you play individually - you take not much notice of it and make sure you do your own job properly," he told Sky Sports. "Rafa's the type of manager to focus on his team. He's not the type who'd get involved with another manager while the game's going on, or disrespect anyone, he's just so focussed on making sure the team plays well."

Source: Eurosport