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| Benítez says Ferguson benefited from greater resources | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 16 2009, 12:46 AM (78 Views) | |
| Homer | May 16 2009, 12:46 AM Post #1 |
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I am the King
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Rafael Benítez has confronted the unpalatable prospect of Manchester United equalling Liverpool's record of 18 league titles by refusing to recognise the champions-elect as the finest team in the country. In a begrudging assessment of his fiercest rivals, he also claimed Sir Alex Ferguson is on course for a third successive Premier League crown thanks only to the financial advantage he enjoys over Liverpool. There was an element of pragmatism in Benítez's modest appraisal of United yesterday, with Liverpool able to take the title race to the final day should Arsenal triumph at Old Trafford this afternoon and West Bromwich Albion be defeated at The Hawthorns tomorrow. His refusal to concede defeat was secondary to a refusal to offer any credit to Ferguson, however, following a campaign that has fractured the once respectful relationship between the managers at Anfield and Old Trafford. Liverpool will become the first team to lose only two matches and not win the title should they remain undefeated for the rest of the season and United gain the point they require. Asked if the best team always wins the league, Benítez responded: "It just means they have more points. "If United win the league it means they will have more points, clearly, but there are some very good teams in different positions in the table. It depends on the time of the season. I don't think I ever said we were playing the best out of everyone, maybe just at certain moments. I do have a lot of respect for the other teams, but to say who is the best at one moment is not easy." The Liverpool manager added: "There are a lot of good teams in the Premier League. Without putting them in any order, I'd say Chelsea, United, Liverpool and Arsenal are the best. This year we have shown we are improving and that we are a better team than before. We can still get better but we are in this position because we are winning a lot, have played good football, scored a lot of goals and not conceded many. Eighty points is good, 86 could be much better, and we will try to get there and see what happens. If United have more points, it only means they have more points, that's all, nothing else." Benítez insisted the only difference this season between Liverpool and United, whom they have beaten home and away, lies not on the pitch but on the balance sheet, with Old Trafford's greater resources providing Ferguson with a deeper and more experienced squad. "For me, United have a bigger squad with top-class players, but always they spend more than we can spend," said the Liverpool manager. "If they make mistakes they can use different players, but the level of the two teams is more or less the same. Maybe we have to bring in some young players without the experience at this level, and that could be the difference. United are a top side that is spending big money every year on improving its squad and that is the main difference between them and the other teams." While Benítez takes pride in Liverpool's creditable pursuit of United, the club's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso has insisted the season cannot be classed a success should it end without a trophy. "In terms of the Premier League it has been better than it has before but if you don't win anything you can't consider it to be a good season," said Alonso, who is likely to be the subject of several transfer enquiries this summer. "We have to be disappointed with ourselves, try to be critics and try to analyse the things that we haven't done properly. Of course you also have to think that we have made progress in the Premier League and we have to keep working on this basis, but you also know that success means winning trophies for Liverpool. It's very painful to look back and think of the draws that we had and the two defeats we have had also." Benítez again revisited a disallowed goal in the opening minutes of the home game against Stoke City as an example of the fine margins that have worked against Liverpool this season. "It's only natural to think where would we be if we had managed to get another good result?" admitted Alonso. "But then all the teams in the Premier League can say the same thing." He has a very good point |
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| Scholes | May 16 2009, 12:47 AM Post #2 |
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Nothing's as it seems
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I honestly don't read a word that man says... |
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| erm307 | May 16 2009, 12:49 AM Post #3 |
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God
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I'm not gunna read it. The fat bitter twat can go and prepare for next year. Perhaps if he didn't keep signing shit players like Crouch and Keane they would have done better in the past few seasons. (By shit i mean not top 4 quality) Sour grapes. |
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| rollingstone | May 16 2009, 12:55 AM Post #4 |
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Viru
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For once, that didn't seem too derogatory. He just said the main difference between us is that we have a larger purse, which is true. Larger pools of money do mean that we should have access to a better squad. It's not really a criticism, more of a statement of obvious fact. But, the point that he needs to concede with that argument is that we have such amounts of money because we have previously spent well within our means, building the foundations for success later on with bargains like Cantona for £1m. |
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| mufc4eva | May 16 2009, 06:03 AM Post #5 |
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Andriy Voronin
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Within all the drivel that man spouts, he does make one point, yes United have had access to a larger pool of resources, but that does not mean that it is the sole reason for success. Spurs spend more than most, and they were fighting off relegation for most part of the season. SAF has taken the money ( WHICH THE CLUB EARNS THEMSELVES BY ON-PITCH PERFORMANCES, MARKETING, AND BUSINESS ACCUMEN), and invested it well in the right players. To blame the club for using its profits for strengthening its position is sheer madness. Secondly, the table does not lie. If United, or any other team for that matter, are on top when the season ends, it means that they have been the best team in the league for a year. Period. IMO, Rafa is just trying to deflect glare from his own short-comings during the season, which have seriously hurt Liverpool's chances. Liverpool have dropped 14 points at home, while United have dropped 5. That too, against the likes of Stoke, Fulham, Hull, and West Ham. Liverpool went out with a "We won't lose" attitude for first halves, and then tried to finish games strongly in the initial part of the season, costing them vital points while United were off in Japan. That, solely, is they reason Liverpool won't win the title this season, cos they could have been out of sight before United came back. |
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When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. - King Eric | |
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| roonaldo | May 16 2009, 08:20 AM Post #6 |
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Dirk Kuyt
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The fact that united have a bigger squad is offset by the fact that they have challenged in every competition, not just one. In all the time benitez has been there they have only challenged for one competition per season, which is far easier than what fergie has been doing. This season for example liverpool were out of both domestic cups in the 4th round, united won the carling cup and lost on penalties in the semis of the fa cup. In europe liverpool were out in the quarters whilst united have played a 2 legged semi with the final still to come. Liverpool have been playing 1 game a week for a while whereas united have played 3 games in 6 days twice. By the end of the season united will have played 13 more games than liverpool |
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| Phil | May 16 2009, 09:24 AM Post #7 |
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YNWA
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That was one of Benitez' calmer and honest press conferences
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| elcule | May 16 2009, 10:22 AM Post #8 |
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Kolo
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If Liverpool come 2nd with 86pts then that is a great achievement; evidently they can do better seeing as the manner in which they dropped most of their points this season was frankly embarrassing. On their day, they are the most effective team in the league but the league table only recognises consistency and, using that criteria, United have the wood over them. Instead of making excuses, Rafa should be drawing on the positives of this season - beating United and Chelsea home and away en route to delivering the title challenege that Merseyside had so craved this last decade or two. Instead of complaining about how hard his task is, he should be focussing on getting his task done, being analitical about where Liverpool failed and taking steps to resolves these problems. Stewing in frustration and firing lame broadsides at Fergie will do little to help them push on next season. |
![]() Winner. "If I go to Anfield and someone puts the ball into the box and Carragher hammers it out of play the fans applaud. At Camp Nou you would never be applauded for that." - Xavi | |
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| Homer | May 16 2009, 02:58 PM Post #9 |
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I am the King
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ONE RAFAEL BENITEZ THERES ONLY ONE RAFAEL BENITEZ!!!!!! |
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