Ferguson Reignites Feud Over Benítez's 'weird' Outburst
Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned the Liverpool manager's 'facts' outburst
Sir Alex Ferguson has re-opened his feud with Rafael Benítez by describing as "weird" the Liverpool manager's outburst against him and questioning the effect it had on the Spaniard's players.
Ferguson was responding to Benítez's criticisms of him in January when the Manchester United manager was accused of, among other things, influencing referees and damaging the Football Association's Respect campaign. In an interview with the New Statesman, Ferguson was asked what he thought of the "facts" that Benítez had listed as grievances. "Weird," he said. "I really don't know what he was talking about. I'd be amazed if his staff or his players thought it was a good idea."
Ferguson was not willing to elaborate but it is thought he was referring to the way Benítez's team lost their form almost straight after he had gone on the attack. United had been seven points behind at the time but the champions now have a four-point advantage at the top of the Premier League despite their 4-1 mauling by Liverpool at Old Trafford last Saturday.
The episode has irreparably damaged the relationship between the two managers, with Ferguson questioning at the weekend that he "would need to read more of Freud" before he could understand what Benítez was talking about. Benítez was also conspicuous by his absence when Ferguson was asked to name the best other managers in the Premier League: "You'd have to say Arsčne Wenger, David Moyes and Martin O'Neill."
Ferguson was also asked if he had a retirement date in mind. "Not for a while. I'm 67 now. My health's good. I still have the drive and the energy. I've been here more than 22 years, but I still get a buzz arriving at the training ground. I still get that tingle when the team bus draws up at an away ground before a big match."
Pushed on whether that meant another year or two, he added: "That kind of area. We'll see." He reiterated that he did not think United could complete a clean sweep of this season's trophies. "The thing about cup football is that you need to be the best, but you also need a lot of luck and I think it's asking too much for all the games to go your way. The one thing I will say is, this squad is the best I have ever had … but it is too tough a call."
Ferguson was responding to Benítez's criticisms of him in January when the Manchester United manager was accused of, among other things, influencing referees and damaging the Football Association's Respect campaign. In an interview with the New Statesman, Ferguson was asked what he thought of the "facts" that Benítez had listed as grievances. "Weird," he said. "I really don't know what he was talking about. I'd be amazed if his staff or his players thought it was a good idea."
Ferguson was not willing to elaborate but it is thought he was referring to the way Benítez's team lost their form almost straight after he had gone on the attack. United had been seven points behind at the time but the champions now have a four-point advantage at the top of the Premier League despite their 4-1 mauling by Liverpool at Old Trafford last Saturday.
The episode has irreparably damaged the relationship between the two managers, with Ferguson questioning at the weekend that he "would need to read more of Freud" before he could understand what Benítez was talking about. Benítez was also conspicuous by his absence when Ferguson was asked to name the best other managers in the Premier League: "You'd have to say Arsčne Wenger, David Moyes and Martin O'Neill."
Ferguson was also asked if he had a retirement date in mind. "Not for a while. I'm 67 now. My health's good. I still have the drive and the energy. I've been here more than 22 years, but I still get a buzz arriving at the training ground. I still get that tingle when the team bus draws up at an away ground before a big match."
Pushed on whether that meant another year or two, he added: "That kind of area. We'll see." He reiterated that he did not think United could complete a clean sweep of this season's trophies. "The thing about cup football is that you need to be the best, but you also need a lot of luck and I think it's asking too much for all the games to go your way. The one thing I will say is, this squad is the best I have ever had … but it is too tough a call."
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