There are not too many managers in the premier league who can boast the fact that they get under Alex Ferguson’s skin, mainly due to the fact that there are not too many who have the nerve to take on the Manchester United manager.
What is clear is that Rafa Benitez is one of the few managers to have outwitted Ferguson, despite what certain sections of the media would have you believe. Rafa is not scared to speak up against the United boss, who himself feels he is above the laws of the game and to a certain extent he may be correct when he says this as the big-wigs at the FA are constantly too scared to punish him.
Ferguson’s constant digs at Rafa Benitez and Liverpool are laughable to say the least, especially when you hear the hypocrisy that comes out of the United manager’s mouth. Before the clash at the weekend Ferguson had the gall to suggest that Liverpool had overachieved last season and he felt that there was no way Rafa’s men could sustain a title challenge this season.
Given the tight purse-strings of George Gillett and Tom Hicks over the past few seasons, I’d be interested to see if Alex Ferguson could keep up with his current level of success at the club if he had the two American’s as his club’s owners. Something tells me that Ferguson would struggle to be challenging for premier league titles and European cups if he had the financial restraint that Rafa has had to put up with.
Rafa’s infamous rant at Ferguson ahead of the trip to the Britannia Stadium last year was perfectly executed and well thought out even if it was labelled by so-called experts of the game as a sign that Rafa was cracking up. The rant was labelled the key factor for Liverpool’s failure to land the title despite the fact the reds only dropped 11 points in their final 17 league games of the season.
If Rafa does leave in the summer, he can at least leave in the comfort of knowing he has been one of the very few managers to play Ferguson at his own game.
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at editor@live4liverpool.com
it almost makes me want him to stay…almost
AGREE, if he can just build more of a team to match, and even then man utd just do not like playing liverpool, yes there has been some defeats but liverpool can match utd and they know it on any given day. lets face it utd did not, play us of the park and while its not a huge factor, its a factor that has to be looked at,,,,
we played 3 games in just over 6 days! that for me has alot to come into it! regie men rested all week, i would like to think, that if rafa spent and made what fergie has done then liverpool would be there where ther are, in rafa we trust.
Yes, quite right – I just hope Rafa stays on for the length of his contract. I think Liverpool needs at least this time to rebuild a team able to challenge for the top titles on a consistent basis.
Ha ha gotta laugh, Rafa has been made to look entirely stupid by Ferguson. Do you really think Rafa outwitted Ferguson? Come on! Rafa just made himself look like a total muppet.
Oh redoman he’s even got you commenting.Why do you even have to reply if your not bothered.Me thinks you feel threatened.
If the mancs hadn’t been on the receiving end of the dubious decisions over the last 20 years they would have struggled to finsih in the top 6 every bloody season. It’s not the players they can buy that make a differnce most seasons its the tide turning officials they either bully or bribe. Ferguson is the joke together withthe Manure supporters who believe that they have honestly won anything. Fungus the bogeyman has corrupted brithish football and I do mean british. He was diver as a player and a cheat of a manager.
Who cares what Ferguson does… Rafa got one over Ferguson?? you sound like the mancs did in the eighties when all they hoped for in a season was to win Liverpool.. There are no trophies for winning utd or getting one over utd so shut up you nob.
I agree with most of what you have written, but one thing have to be said; Ferguson DO have the same finacial restraints as Benítez have, what I think you really meant to say was that if Ferguson started out his United-career with as little money as Benítez did in Liverpool, he would not even be close to the top-4 every single season. I would agree with that.
You are so right…Rafa was so clever to outwit Sir Alex.
Sir Alex can’t be disappointed though considering he’s won 4 or 5 league titles, an FA cup or two and a CL trophy during the time that Rafa only won the CL with someone else’s team and an FA cup on a penalty shoot out.
Well done Rafa you showed him!
P.s Rafa’s spent about the same amount of money as Sir Alex but wasted it!
Lets stop using that excuse.
Good points almost echoes comments from Roberto Martinez (although later retracted) who said Steve Bruce, Allardyce and Fergie gang up on Rafa!!!!
Some people often forget that Rafa has had to improve the squad just to put us in with a shout of challenging at the top. When he arrived we weren’t level with Utd – we were well behind, we’re closer now but still need money to buy.
It staggers me that we finished last season second and there was no financial backing. Money spent was made through player sales, which if you are looking to win titles is not the way to go. The owners should have thrown 60M or so Rafa’s way to get us REAL PROVEN quality and not maybe players that are second or third on the wish list.
Another way to look at it is to consider that Wenger has finished below Rafa half the time, but Wenger gets far more respect in the media.
I have to say that Rafa lacks the amazing qualities that Fergie has. Political clout, getting dubious decisions, keeping the squad’s one decent saviour fit to carry the team (be it Rooney, Ronaldo, RVN, Rumplestiltskin…), adding more injury time when needed, spending millions without selling. For that, Rafa can’t hope to match up. He might be one of the best managers around, but as we know just being good doesn’t win you premiership titles – there’s far more to it than that.
People who say “Rafa spent as much as Fergie” make me laugh.
He has spent a lot, but the difference is that Rafa has had to sell in order to spend whereas Fergie has just spent and kept what he already had.
When Rafa took over, United already had a good, well established squad and Fergie has spent money to improve it, where Rafa has had to sell the squad he inherited to rebuild it with the same money that were just for “add-ons” for United.
Rafa won CL in first season and went to the final 2 years later. Fergie won 2 CL but needed nearly a quarter of a century to achieve that. You know what they say. Give a monkey enough time and he will write a shakespeare sonnet. Compare that to Paisley who won 3 Cl in just 9 years. Fergie only won so many english titles due to refs being the 12th man. How any 25million+ players has he bought without selling players? If he had the resources at LFC he would have problem making top 5 and you Manure followers know it
If Rafa was called Sir Rafa Benitez all the bad decision we had this year would had been the opposite we would be above Arsenal
Fergie is essentially a cave-scot.
He has no idea how to deal with media, or opposition, tries to play mind games but looks like a complete twat.
He has the guile to suggest that referees are biased AGAINST his side, and jump up and down when the referee takes too long to end the game.
He’s a massive hypocrit that attempts to prey on managers who appear to be either in a vulnerable position or that look to threaten.
In Rafa We Trust
Rafa’ made those remarks last season at a perfect time – Just before Chelsea’s visit to OT and a few months before WE visited there (which was his REAL target). Given what happened in our game at OT with Vidic being sent off and United conceding a penalty – I don’t think it can be argued that the so-called ‘rant’ worked.
As to those who compare it to Keegan? They’re idiots, spoon-fed sheep who are media led or BOTH; Rafa’ took on Fergie with a concise list, a large amount of detail as to WHY he’s saying those things and a touch of sarcasm aimed at Ferguson; Keegan? HIS speech was just an incoherent rant with him almost foaming at the mouth – He was pathetic by comparism with Rafa’. Rafa’ was right at the end of the campaign last season as well – Liverpool WERE the best team in the country whatever the final table.
The games Liverpool gained victory in and the wins against ALL comers they achieved were FAR superior to the jammy list of victories gained by desperate comebacks or ‘friendly’ ref’ decisons that gave United the title during April and May.
United were NOT the best team in England last season – They jammed (or even cheated if you look at that ludicrous penalty against Spurs at OT) their way to the top and were lucky there wasn’t 2 or 3 more games – Rafa’ had the better of Ferguson last year and EVERYONE knows it.
Why do you think Ferguson NEVER talks of last year now but ALWAYS goes on about Keegan when given the chance? Because deep down, HE knows that Rafa’ ‘had’ him to and it damaged him in the head very deeply – hence his current apparent ‘hatred’ for Benitez – Not many get to the old warhorse as Rafa’ did last year but what is unarguable is that Rafa’ DID get through his defences to land some telling blows, and then some…………………..
Do you plan to keep this site updated? I sure hope so… its great!
You’re making your own items effectively though I still am not persuaded yet.
I totally agree what arcticle said. But it will not change my decision (Rafa should leave the club). He’d done enough for the club. I will give Rafa an B+ which really consider a good result & better than Houlier, Evan & other Manager before him. Anyway, he is good but he still not as mentally good than Ferguson. He is not very good in playing this game. So, better for Him to leave if he can got the job in Juventus or real madrid. Good offer also.