Benitez reignites Ferguson feud

Rafael Benitez has reiterated his 2009 claim that Sir Alex Ferguson puts undue pressure on match officials.

Last Updated: 23/01/13 at 08:17 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Premier League Winner 12/13. Click here to bet.

Ferguson and Benitez have a fractious relationship

Ferguson and Benitez have a fractious relationship

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has reiterated his 2009 claim that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson puts undue pressure on match officials.

The pair have shared a fractious relationship for years, dating back to Benitez's spell in charge of Liverpool and highlighted by the Spaniard's famous rant four years ago in which he suggested Ferguson was never punished for verbally abusing referees and their assistants.

"I always try to concentrate on my job, but at that time with Ferguson I was defending my club," Benitez said in an interview with The Times.

"I could see what was happening from my point of view, and maybe now a lot of people are seeing the same things. I will not talk too much about that because it's obvious."

Ferguson's behaviour was brought into the spotlight again on Sunday when he accused linesman Simon Beck of having a "shocking" game in the Red Devils' 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Tottenham, saying the visitors "never got anything from that side of the pitch".

The Scot has been contacted by the Football Association to explain comments and has until 6pm on Thursday to respond.

"It's a question for the FA what they do about it," Benitez added. "What I said at that time was what I thought, and what I'm seeing now is similar.

"It depends on the FA. I don't know what they will do - it depends on them. At this moment in time I have enough things to do here, so I want to concentrate on my job."

Benitez, meanwhile, has warned Swansea's Michael Laudrup of the challenges of management at the highest level ahead of Wednesday night's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg.

Laudrup has impressed since moving to the Liberty Stadium as successor to Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers and the style Swansea employ has attracted admirers.

Further success at Swansea could see the Dane move to a club challenging at the top end of the Barclays Premier League, possibly even Chelsea, where tactics are one of numerous concerns.

Benitez said: "The style of football the team had under (Paulo) Sousa, Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers was good for him because it's the way that he likes to play.

"But when you're managing in the middle of the table it's easy to bring in young players, it's easy to play a certain style. It's when you're at the top or the bottom when it's harder to impose your ideas.

"Football is quite complicated now. You have to manage a lot of things. That's something you have to analyse carefully."


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