Benitez questions Fergie call
21 Mar 2008 - 07:58:27
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has accused Sir Alex Ferguson of attempting to manipulate referee Steve Bennett ahead of Sunday's showdown with Manchester United.
Ferguson has called for his in-form winger Cristiano Ronaldo to receive more protection ahead of the Old Trafford clash.
However, Benitez claims his counterpart is attempting to play mind games and has upped the ante by suggesting his own star players are also on the receiving end of rough treatment.
"Ferguson is clever, that is clear," said the Spaniard. "After a difficult game (against Bolton in midweek), he was talking about referees and before an important game he is talking about protecting Ronaldo.
"The referees though have experience and they will know Ferguson. This kind of treatment must be the same for all the teams and all the players.
"I wasn't surprised last week to hear what he was saying. I just want to go into the game with the same situation as the other team.
"I don't know what he was thinking about exactly, but if you need to protect Ronaldo, you also need to protect (Fernando) Torres and (Steven) Gerrard and all the skilful players in the league."
Meanwhile, Benitez also claims he has no special plans to contain Ronaldo despite the Portugal winger taking his goal tally to 33 this season with a brace against Bolton on Wednesday.
"I think they have a lot of good players so if you are just thinking about Ronaldo it will be difficult. We need to think about all of them," he added.
"In these kind of games the small details will be the difference."