Benítez Launches Furious Attack on Ferguson

In his 22 years at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson has shown a remarkable ability to get under the skin of his counterparts at other clubs. Rafael Benítez today became the latest to fail to contain his fury with the Manchester United manager, the Liverpool manager launching an astonishing attack on Ferguson that ranged from United's supposed influence with referees to the FA lenience towards the club via the topic of United's recent complaints over the fixture list.

Benítez claimed that Ferguson was "the only manager who will not be punished" for criticizing referees, accused him of "killing" the Respect campaign and saved particular vitriol for Ferguson's claims earlier this month that United had been "handicapped" by the Premier League fixture list.

"He [Ferguson] was talking about the fixtures," said Benítez in a press conference that brought echoes of Kevin Keegan's infamous "I would love it ..." outburst as Newcastle manager in 1996. "Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn't say anything. Now he is complaining about everything, that everybody is against United.

"But the second half of the season will see them playing at home against all the teams at the top of the table, it is a fantastic advantage. But at Christmas, United played on the 29th and the rest of the teams played on the 28th. We were away against Newcastle two days after playing Bolton. They were playing about 40 hours later, they were not complaining then."

"If he wants to talk about fixtures, and have a level playing field as you say in England. There are two options if we don't want more problems with fixtures. One is the same as in Spain, the draw for the first part of the league is known, everyone knows which weekend. In the second-half everyone plays the opposite, so you all know. Sky and Setanta have the right to choose their games and it will be the same for everyone. So Mr Ferguson will not be complaining about fixtures and a campaign against United.

"Or there is another option. That Mr Ferguson organizes the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone will know and cannot complain. That is simple."

Benítez also accused Ferguson and his club of influencing referees at Old Trafford — "We know what happens every time we go to Old Trafford. They are always going man to man with the referees, especially at half-time when they walk close to the referees and they are talking and talking" — and said that, despite his fiery outburst being evidence to the contrary, his club would not be affected by Manchester United's mind games.

"I have decided that I had a lot of information and I have been watching every single week what has been going on. Then they started talking about us, but every single week we know they will be talking," he said. "But we want to stay at the top and maybe they will talk about us right to the end."