Source: Telegraph
Liverpool's Rafa Benitez branded 'arrogant' by Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United v EvertonKick-off: Sun Apr 19, 4.00pm, Wembley Stadium, LondonTV: ITV1, ITV HD, Setanta Sports 2Radio: BBC Radio Five Live [LNB]Ferguson, preparing his team for Sunday's FA Cup Final against Everton at Wembley, resumed hostilities with Benitez during his press briefing at United's Carrington training ground on Friday lunchtime. [LNB] Related ArticlesRooney: Everton taunts inspire meTevez and Ronaldo to Real?Rooney: United stronger for setbacksPorto 0 Man Utd 1: Agg 2-3'Ronaldo is a Real Madrid player'Papers: United running scared, says WalcottThe two men have engaged in a verbal battle ever since Benitez revealed a series of 'facts' to criticise Ferguson in January. The United manager responded by suggesting Benitez was 'disturbed' and the venom has since continued to flow in both directions. [LNB]But Ferguson's latest attack came in defence of close friend Allardyce who, according to the United manager, was treated with 'contempt' by Benitez during Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Blackburn at Anfield last Saturday. [LNB]Ferguson said: 'There is one thing about the arrogance he has shown, but the thing you can't forgive is his contempt to Sam Allardyce last week when Liverpool scored their second goal. [LNB]'Did you see it? He gestured to suggest that the game was finished. Absolute contempt. I don't think Sam Allardyce deserved that, a guy who has worked so hard for the LMA (League Managers Association). [LNB]'He didn't deserve that. Having had to play with a weakened team, he didn't deserve to get that kind of contempt. [LNB]'I don't think any other Liverpool manager would have done that. It was beyond the pale.'[LNB]Allardyce also hit out at Benitez, accusing the Spaniard of being "disrespectful" for what he claims was a "humiliating" gesture. [LNB]For total clarity, Allardyce has reviewed footage of the incident several times after initially witnessing it following Liverpool's second goal of a 4-0 victory at Anfield last Saturday. [LNB]Although Benitez is well-known for his hand signals from the technical area, Allardyce insists the gesticulations following Fernando Torres' 33rd-minute header were directed towards him and his team. [LNB]Allardyce's understanding is that Benitez crossed his arms over dismissively as if to suggest 'that's it, game over, job done'. [LNB]The Rovers manager also believes Benitez showed a further lack of respect by not showing up in his own office for a post-match drink, leaving Allardyce seeking an explanation. [LNB]"I think if everybody has a look back at his gestures you will see them as pretty dismissive to me and the Blackburn Rovers team as a whole," fumed Allardyce. [LNB]"I was hugely disappointed by those gestures. I think they were disrespectful and quite humiliating. Having looked at them again this week, I think I'm right and everybody will see why I'm complaining. [LNB]"The feeling was that he had written us off. It was open arms and then a crossover of the arms as if to suggest that was it. [LNB]"I admit it was a hard game, a difficult game for us, and we were well beaten by an outstanding Liverpool side. But in terms of respect, you don't expect those sort of things to happen in a game of football. I was very, very upset by it. [LNB]"The game is hard enough as it is without a fellow manager doing what seemed to be an undermining gesture. I then waited to have a word with him after the game in his room, but as usual and unfortunately, he didn't turn up. [LNB]"Not explaining himself by not turning up in his office really shows what he is like. The only people I saw were Sammy Lee and a few of the staff, but he never showed his face. That was just as disappointing as the gesture, and it typifies the man." [LNB]There has never been any love lost between the two men in the past, with Allardyce's outburst merely serving to add fuel to the fire. [LNB]Allardyce has made no attempt to contact Benitez this week to try and clarify the matter, insisting: "Why should I? [LNB]"If he can't come into his own room and have a drink with his fellow manager, why would I want to pick up the phone and speak to him? [LNB]"I gave him the opportunity by being courteous enough after being beaten 4-0 to go and have a drink in his room. [LNB]"There was no need for those sorts of gestures, and my opinion as to whether I'm right is obviously going to be speculated upon by other people, but I think I'm right. [LNB]"He would have had the opportunity to have explained himself if he had turned up in his room, but didn't, so that's why I'm talking about it today. [LNB]"It's in the past now and I'll move on, but I just want to make everybody aware of what I consider to be a lack of respect for me, the Blackburn Rovers players and the football club as a whole." [LNB]With United up against Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton on Sunday, Ferguson admits that even David Moyes's team have been forced to endure the 'arrogance' of Benitez. [LNB]He said: 'Irrespective of what Rafa Benitez says, Everton are a big club. He called them a small club, which just points to his arrogance. [LNB]'David Moyes is building a big club with a young squad that will get better. He has a good variety there, so I think he has done a great job. [LNB]'We are facing a very hungry team on Sunday because David has to win a trophy and I know he is feeling that way. [LNB]'This is a big opportunity for him, so we know what we are up against.' [LNB]Michael Carrick (ankle) and Wayne Rooney (foot) are expected to be fit on Sunday, while Gary Neville and Rafael da Silva are due to contest the right-back role. [LNB]
