Hate to say it but thats a fair assessment from Ferguson. Fergie defending LFC, now thats crazy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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."
Hummm, Remember Fergie spoke in a similarly positive fashion about one or two other managers in times past .. sadly, they were gone shortly afterwards (i.e. Jose !) I can't decide if he's playing mind games, or trying to help when he comes out with these type of things ... because he's a manc, you can't be trusting him entirely at any time. Anyone know if he's possibly part of a Managers union or something, perhaps that might explain his reason for speaking out ?
was thinking the same thing. Not sure if he's having a sly dig, saying that Liverpool are no longer are a big club, or if he's genuine in saying give Rafa a break. If he's geniune then it seems Fergie has gone full circle from envying LFC to pitying LFC...aaarrrrhhhh we don't want his pity. This guy thinks he's the godfather of managers...maybe he's had enough of the manager-merry-go-round and he's trying to do his bit to slow it down. He did say after Jose left that he missed the mind games with him...maybe it's because he'll only have Wenger left to play with if Rafa goes. I don't know what his agenda is but I find it hard to take him at his word-he is afterall the ultimate manc!
There is one other possibility also ... Fergie is getting old and like most people, when they start getting old they worry about being left alone, not loved anymore etc ... so they go out of their way to befriend as many people as possible, make their peace with everyone etc etc .. perhaps this is starting with him too ?
sincerely doubt it - ol red nos will outlive methusla and then vie with satan for the throne in hell. The man doesn't give a toss about rafa - its just more of his pathetic prepubescent attempts at psychological warfare or 'mind games'. The man is a heartless amoral twat who'd sell his first born son for a last minute equaliser. That p###k wrecks my head
I agree with badman. I think it is a chance to have another swipe at liverpool to be honest. He is secretly laughing to himself (probably while torturing kittens)
so what if he's right....he should keep his opinions to himself...its just another swipe at Liverpoool and he's loving it chucky ar la
Oh you know things are bad when Fergie is defending us. He was probably only too delighted to say something. He had some points but you could read the little digs between the lines. All we need now is for Gary Neville to give us some words of wisdom.