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**dww** · 09-01-09, 03:55 PM

He's not wrong.

**bipjohn** · 09-01-09, 03:56 PM

Whats Rafa Said about Whiskey nose....???

Apparantly according to a brief report on Radio Merseyside Rafa has launced a blistering attack on Ferguson.

About time someone had the balls to stand up to him.

Anyone know what was said........?

**Reece** · 09-01-09, 03:56 PM

That's not the half of it

Stolen from elsewhere:

SSN had him on a little while ago usual pre-game bumf, then he apparently rips Mr. Ferguson a new one.................

HERE IS THE PRESS-CONFERENCE- translated from norwegian

tried to make a topic about it earlier but I can't.
anyway, here goes:

Rafael Benitez used a surprising front attack on Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson during today's press conference at Melwood. The comments is sure to be broken up with large type in the British media throughout the day.

- Manchester United do not expect that Liverpool are able to remain in the top of the Premier League. A sign that they are nervous, trumpet Rafael, before he continued:

- I'm not interested in being part of so-called "mind games", but I want to come with some facts. After the match against Hull Ferguson had two matches quarantine to have complained about the judge. This was just after the football foundation started their "respect" campaign. Ferguson appeals for all and all, and he is the only manager who can afford such with no consequences for him.

- He appeals repeatedly on the term-list, but during the "Christmas season", when Manchester United played 29th desember and all other teams the 28th desember, he didn't say anything. There are only two things we can do so that Alex Ferguson will think the term-list have justice, and that Manchester United are not unfairly treated. One is a clean draw of the layout, where the term-list turned on its head by half played series. The second is that we travel to Fergusons office before the season start and let him set up everything. So we can take it from there.

- We know about everything that happens at Old Trafford in connection with games. Ferguson is the only manager in the Premier League who can afford to follow the judge into the changing-room both at halftime and after the match, respectively, to affect him and scold him. He is the only manager to get away with this. These are facts, and not "mind games".

SOURCES: Liverpool.no

Alot of mistakes problably, but I used Google Translate to get it out as soon as possible..

**memzey** · 09-01-09, 04:04 PM

Well in son! Hope this doesn't backfire though...

**Reece** · 09-01-09, 04:04 PM

Rafa Benitez has launched an extraordinary attack on Sir Alex Ferguson, saying the Scot is the only manager who thinks he is above the law.

Benitez was speaking ahead of a huge weekend at the top of The Premier League, which could see Liverpool go six points clear with victory at Stoke - live on Setanta.

Click here for details of how to get Setanta Sports on Satellite, Freeview or Broadband for live coverage of Stoke v Liverpool from 5pm Saturday.

The Liverpool boss was reacting to Ferguson's claims that Manchester United have been the target of a tough fixture list - and what a reaction it was!

"I think they are nervous because we are at the top of the table," began the simmering Spaniard.

"I want to be clear. I don't want to play mind games too early. I think they want to start. I will say some facts so it's easy to talk about this...

"On November 1, Manchester United played against Hull and Mr Ferguson received a two-match touchline ban and was fined £2,000 after the game for confronting Mike Dean and for improper conduct.

"We then started the Respect campaign and started with Mascherano's sending off at Old Trafford. Steve Bennett was the referee then, and he was also the ref when they played against Wigan and he could not see the handball from Rio Ferdinand. He didn't give a penalty and they won the game and won the title.

"I think the same referee, Mr Bennett, will be in charge for the game in hand against Wigan. During the Respect campaign, Mr Ferguson was in fact charged for improper conduct for comments made against Martin Atkinson and was not punished.

"He is the only manager in the English league that cannot be punished for these things."

Benitez, armed with a notepad full of points, then turned to Ferguson's moans about the fixture list, which has seen United play away from home after every Champions League game this season - as well as playing the 'top four' all away from home.

"The second half of the season, they're playing at home against all the other teams at the top of the league and I think this is a fantastic advantage," continued Benitez.

"At Christmas time, United played on the 29th instead of the 28th, I don't know why. The rest of the teams didn't and we played away at Newcastle 42-44 hours after Bolton at home. He was not complaining this day or thinking about this.

"His behaviour with referees, the Southampton manager, he knows how Mr Ferguson works. He was very clear the other day. It's a fact and I'm not playing mind games, I am talking about facts.

"If he wants to talk about fixtures and how we can all be in the same position on a level playing field in England, there are two options.

"If you don't want more problems, do the same as in Spain. They draw the first part of the league so all the teams know who they play against and, in the second half of the league, it's the opposite. Everyone knows. After Sky and Setanta have the right to choose their games on Saturday and Sunday, they will choose them and it'll be the same for everyone.

"Mr Ferguson won't be complaining about fixtures so maybe the other option is for Mr Ferguson to be organising the fixtures in his office and sending it to us so everyone knows and nobody will complain...

**Vermilion** · 09-01-09, 04:05 PM

Crafty old Rafa, showing such open support for the poor abused Ref's, get in there.

And i loved this bit.....

There are only two things we can do so that Alex Ferguson will think the term-list have justice, and that Manchester United are not unfairly treated. One is a clean draw of the layout, where the term-list turned on its head by half played series. The second is that we travel to Fergusons office before the season start and let him set up everything. So we can take it from there.

**Kenneth** · 09-01-09, 04:10 PM

It's certainly an interesting one. He's not lashing out because he's in a corner or under particular pressure, this is a deliberate attack.

**Bob** · 09-01-09, 04:12 PM

I don't want to play mind-games, but here are some facts...

Nice to see he won't be bullied!

**DeeTheDog** · 09-01-09, 04:13 PM

Mind games, on the eve of one of their biggest games of the season too. Nice one!

**bipjohn** · 09-01-09, 04:14 PM

Just watched it and in my opinion Rafa is spot on and its about time someone stood up to whiskey nose. He has seen himself as above the law and everyone else for years, hence his ridicuolous (and against PL rules) stance with the BBC.

It started when Masch was sent off at OToilet last year, clearly he took the brunt of the respect campaign and nobody, but nobody has been sent of for similar (or worse) since. Rooney, Vidic and the rest of them act like Ferguson, above the law, they get away with whatever they want and Ferguson defends the.

Then you get his snide comments about Robbioe Keane earlier this season, another thing to get Rafa riled.

Then you get his barking comments about fixtures the other week?

Well in Rafa, and you lot on here make no mistakes, these arent mind games, these are FACTS!

**Craig_H** · 09-01-09, 04:14 PM

About time someone said this. It's all true and it's what everyone else thinks, but is too scared to say.

**JohnDoe** · 09-01-09, 04:16 PM

That's definitely one of the funniest press conferences I've ever seen. Rafa starting the mind games without the mind games.

**Manofthebog** · 09-01-09, 04:16 PM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/

Top right, click and watch.

Class man our Rafa.

**dww** · 09-01-09, 04:17 PM

At the start of the season there were some comments from Rafa about us not having the same suction with the FA and PL as the other big clubs - I wonder if there is a specific reason he feels he can make this change now with these comments. If say maybe Hackett or one of the other referees has made statements that indicate they would like some backing. Other than that he may just feel it looks less like sour grapes if you are top of the league and have been for a while.

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