In a bid to counter Sir Alex Ferguson’s usual mind games, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has launched a massive verbal attack against the charismatic Manchester United coach at a press conference prior to the league leaders’ visit to Stoke in the English Premier League. The manner of the attack has taken the football diaspora by complete surprise. The former Valencia manager is not known for his verbal talent yet by tearing onto Sir Alex, Rafa Benitez has clearly hinted that his Liverpool side would take on the defending champions both on and off the field right upto the end of the season.
Rafael Benitez brought into question Sir Alex’s sporting spirit when he stated that the Scotsman is “the only manager who will not be punished” for verbally attacking referees. This sudden outburst from the softspoken Spaniard is a direct response to Mr.Ferguson’s comments about Liverpool’s lack of nerves in the run up to the Premier League title. Mr.Benitez’s reaction is similar to what Arsene Wenger did against Manchester United and their volatile manager during the Gunners’ Premier League title winning seasons of 2001-2002 and 2003-2004. Sir Alex may be a master of mind games yet we have seen things backfire in the past. By questioning Liverpool’s title credentials could be a way to distract and irritate Benitez and company but this can easily play into the hands of the title chasers as they will be extra motivated to clinch the crown from the champions of England, Europe and the world.
Rafa’s attack on his United counterpart was measured and calculated as he read out genuine facts from a piece of paper in response to a journalist’s query regarding Sir Alex’s comments on Liverpool getting nervous as the season draws to a close. The response was instant as the Spanish coach was quoted as saying, “I was surprised by what has been said, but maybe they(Manchester United)are nervous because we are at the top of the table.” He added, “But I want to talk about facts. I want to be clear, I do not want to play mind games too early, although they seem to want to start.”
In a veiled attack towards the English football authorities, Rafa Benitez has expressed his surprise at the rate at which United get protected by the referees in critical matches when others do not seem to get similar protection. Naming Steve Bennett as the referee responsible for wrongly ruling decisions in favour of the Red Devils in the past, Rafael Benitez has put both the referee and the FA under heavy pressure for future United matches. By unleashing such a ferocious verbal attack, Rafa has created quite a stir in the British football media. As his facts are genuine, the media cannot deny the fact that Manchester United did get additional favours from the referees in the past and Mr.Benitez might have done Chelsea a favour for Sunday’s crucial battle at Old Trafford as the match would be played under strict surveillance with much of the attention would be on the refereeing. The Spanish manager’s astonishing attack was normal given the favours United enjoyed over the years and maybe it’s normal on the part of Sir Alex to go after officials(which sometimes do tend to influence results), yet it was a matter of time that someone stood up against it and Rafa’s comments in the media should not go unnoticed.
Sir Alex’s conduct will come under the scrutiny as his team chases down Liverpool and Chelsea going into the second half of the season. Having blasted Sir Alex Ferguson in the media, Rafa Benitez must not take this off field battle too far as unnecessary talk might just distract the Reds from the job at hand. Manchester United are masters of mind games and it won’t be the end as Liverpool and United battle it out for the biggest prize in England.

Image Credit: BBC