A mad, mad world - Slur on Rafa

[Remington]

Give Benitez a break, says United manager Ferguson | the Daily Mail


Give Benitez a break, says United manager Ferguson
By IAN OGDEN Last updated at 21:25pm on 23rd January 2008

Comments Comments
Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a passionate defence of Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, urging Anfield's American owners to "show class" and act like a "big club".

Benitez is fighting to save his job due to the infighting that has seen the Spaniard challenge owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over their failure to provide the funds for new players this month.

The outspoken Hicks has since driven a further wedge between himself and Benitez by admitting to talks with Jurgen Klinsmann over the possibility of the German replacing Benitez.

Opposition to Hicks and Gillett has hardened to the point where demonstrating fans are calling for their swift departure.

But Ferguson, who has forged a seemingly perfect working relationship with the Glazer family, Manchester United's American owners, claims Benitez has been treated shabbily.

Ferguson said of the Klinsmann meeting: "That was a bad piece of business on Liverpool's part. That sort of thing can be very upsetting for a manager.

"As a manager, there are quite a few moments in every week when you're on your own and people don't want to knock on your door because they think you're busy all the time, but you can be sitting there twiddling your thumbs.

"You can fill your time by phoning other managers and doing other things, but there's a lot of time spent on your own and, in moments like that, Rafa must feel very alone.

"How you react depends on what kind of person you are and Rafa seems a stubborn character who can put aside emotion, whereas Martin Jol seemed to be more affected by it when a similar thing happened to him at Spurs.

"I've been very fortunate at United because I have had good directors, people like Bobby Charlton and Martin Edwards, who always supported me very well. At big clubs, it is paramount that the board shows their class.

"Twenty years ago, Liverpool were a closely knit and well-run club and, when Peter Robinson was the secretary, a tightly run ship.

"Obviously results matter and they matter to me and they also matter to the likes of Arsene Wenger. But Wenger had great support from David Dein at Arsenal and I've had great support, too, ever since I came here.

"So there is unity there. You should allow a manager to get on with his job."

When Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford from Aberdeen in 1986, he admitted that his No 1 priority was to knock Liverpool off their perch.

It appeared a tall order, with Liverpool having collected four European Cups and nine League championships since United had lifted their last title in 1967.

But the United manager has left Liverpool in the shade during his 22 years in English football and he claims it will be more difficult for Liverpool to close the gap if Benitez is forced out.

Ferguson said: "The important thing is that big clubs should be seen to be big clubs. Most players want to play for Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool, but when they see a club that is topsy-turvy, with a divide between the manager and the directors, they might think twice. They want to join a stable club.

"One thing is that Rafa has brought in a lot of his players because of his Spanish connections. Now, if an English manager was to come into Liverpool, that connection is gone."

The disharmony at Anfield has coincided with the run of poor results that sees Liverpool lying in fifth place in the Premiership, 14 points adrift of leaders United.

Ferguson, due to return from United's trip to Saudi Arabia today, added: "Liverpool will be concentrating on trying to win the European Cup rather than the League this season. I say that because there are three clubs ahead of them rather than just one.

"It's a long way to Arsenal, Chelsea and ourselves. If it was just one club in front of them, you still couldn't write Liverpool off. But it is very difficult to think that three teams could ever drop that number of points and be caught."

Ferguson has claimed it is United's defence — and not the attacking trio of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez — that is the key to his side's title bid.

He said: "There's a good understanding of the importance of the defensive part of our game and we're better than we were last season."

[coop]

Hate to say it but thats a fair assesment from Ferguson.

[Faustus]

He still gets a few snidey digs in though, the purple-nosed cunt.

[Alonso]

I agree he makes sense.

Hey what the Fuck is the The Everton ad doing on our google AD -"The Official History"

[Joe Strummer]

Rafa and Fergie get on really well. Fergie wrote a 'well done' letter to Rafa after the CL final 2005.

[real red]

Sounds like a union rep there almost.

[EmilHamilton]

They are part of the LMA.

[johnb]

Oh dear. Take a step back people!

As long as Benitez is here, Ferguson knows United are safe. Haven't seen him saying too many nice things about Wenger for, oh, the last ten years.

I recall he made similar noises in 03 about Gérard (the season he should have been sacked in). Don't bother going to check, I've done it for you.

Satan is taking the piss here. He has no fucking business commenting on us. He's just sitting back and laughing.

Sir Alex Ferguson reckons Worthington Cup foe Gerard Houllier should have a Liverpool job for life after the Frenchman's achievements at the Anfield club.

Houllier has come under fire after a chronic run of form which has left the Merseysiders facing the prospect of missing out on crucial Champions League income next term.

However, Ferguson, one of the Frenchman's first visitors as he recovered from major heart surgery a couple of years ago, cannot believe Houllier's position is in doubt after delivering an impressive five trophies during his time in charge.

"I can't understand the criticism Gerard has received over the past few weeks, particularly given the job he has done there," said the United chief.

"He has changed the whole culture of the club in such a short space of time and five trophies at any club should make you a fixture for life."

Ferguson admitted he was concerned when Houllier declared his intention to return to his management role after recovering from his life-threatening illness.

"Everyone worries when you get an illness like that," he said.

[TheDrowningMan]

Or maybe the cunt is just being honest, given that he found himself toiling away in mid-table for five of his first six season before finally winning the title?

If anyone knows about stability and patience being the best route to success, it's Ferguson. Unfortunately for us, Man Utd wasn't run by people like Hicks & Gillett and the 'Newcastle' element of our fanbase circa 1990. If it were, their period of dominance would have never emerged.

[EmilHamilton]

Just me, but I reckon if Houllier had been given more time he could've won the League, and it's the same with Rafa.

They're falling short on a similar hurdle, and just need that extra little bit to cross the finishing line comfortably the next time around.

[TheHitman]

Don't want to disrespect Houllier because he gave us some great times but i would say that Benitez is a class above Houllier although i would say Houllier was the right man for that period when we needed discipline and organisation.

[EmilHamilton]

Houllier was tactically naive yes, but I think given time he would've gotten us clicking.

He did so at Lyon anyway, not that big an achievement, but not bad.

[RSM]

Originally Posted by TheHitman

Don't want to disrespect Houllier because he gave us some great times but i would say that Benitez is a class above Houllier although i would say Houllier was the right man for that period when we needed discipline and organisation.

spot on.

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by EmilHamilton

Just me, but I reckon if Houllier had been given more time he could've won the League, and it's the same with Rafa.

You've no idea how true those first two words are mate!

haha

[real red]

Rafa doesn't know Willie McKay.

[Liam]

Fergie seems to speak with a strange fondness for Rafa, he appears to even forget that he manages Liverpool at times... Silly old fool.

[Tom R]

Please dont' fall for this shite, people! PLEASE

It's fucking demento! Ignore the spin, he's just being a complete fucking cunt as always.

[EmilHamilton]

I liked Houllier, but he lost it in the end, and I semi-fear with the ownership lark Rafa might as well.

Wherever he goes though I'll support Rafa as well.

[rebel23]

managers are made or broken in the transfer market and Rafa is one of the best operators in the market and best placed to attract top foreign talent, he doesn't always get it right but he gets it right more often than not. let him get on with it and stop being so fucking short sighted

[DJLJ]

Originally Posted by rebel23

managers are made or broken in the transfer market and Rafa is one of the best operators in the market and best placed to attract top foreign talent, he doesn't always get it right but he gets it right more often than not. let him get on with it and stop being so fucking short sighted

How do you reckon he is right more often than not? I'll defo say that is bullshit.

EDIT: But this as been gone over so many times, in so many threads, so whats the point?

[Moschops II]

Yeah, I'm certain Ferguson's terrified of Rafa leaving at the end of the season, Mascherano going with him, Hicks and Gillett remaining in place, and us kicking off in August with Mark Hughes or Alan Curbishley. Then we're really going to be a force to be reckoned with.