Rafa Snub Keeps Feud Alive
By: Wayne Farry | May 18th, 2009
In the wake of United’s eighteenth title, when it’s common for most managers to offer the title-winning manager their congratulations, Rafa Benitez has refused to do so, stating “there were a lot of things” Sir Alex Ferguson said this season that he didn’t like.
The two men don’t get on, so it’s obvious that there are some things that Sir Alex said this year that Benitez didn’t quite like, perhaps it was when Sir Alex called him a “disturbed man” after he released his dossier of “facts”? We’ll never know exactly what it was, I guess. Something riled him though, riled him really, really bad.
But while congratulations have come from most managers – Chelsea’s Guus Hiddink praised United’s “coolness under pressure” while Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger also congratulated the Scot – Benitez has once again chosen to throw some more fuel on the fire by congratulating the club, but not the man behind the title win.
This little feud has been going on all season, often detracting from the on-pitch matters and it appears Rafa just doesn’t know when to stop it. During the season, when you were hoping he wouldn’t retaliate just so we wouldn’t have to hear anymore, he came out with more and more drivel. There is even a case to be made that his “these are facts” tirade was a major negative influence on Liverpool’s title chances, as they drew a number of games afterward.
But to me, it seems like Benitez wants the last word on this so he can say he wasn’t pushed around by Sir Alex, a man whose words have upset many a manager. Perhaps by refusing to congratulate the league champion he feels a little better about himself. But really, while Benitez may have wanted the last word, Sir Alex got it on Saturday as soon as the final whistle blew, and what Benitez may see as defiance in the face of adversity appears to be no more than a distinct lack of grace.
If Liverpool want any chance of even coming close to the title next season, Benitez will have to pay more attention to his team, not ours.
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Category: Manchester United
Tags: Arsene Wenger, English Premier League, Guus Hiddink, Liverpool, Manchester United, Rafa Benitez, Sir Alex FergusonSubscribe
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Comments
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Benitez is a prick of the highest order!
Posted from
United States
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Guy has no class. It seems that he really is a nasty individual without redeeming qualities.
Posted from
United States -
Ferguson is hardly the most magnimanous in defeat though is he? Hiding in toilets after the defeat at Old Trafford is not a classy move – Neither manager can back down, because to lose face would undermine the team’s confidence.
Ferguson sends the winning manager Champagne and a note? A nice touch, but I think if Benitez had won 11 out of 18 titles, it might sting less when one got past him.
These gights come and go – Wenger, Mourinho and now Benitez – it’s Fergusaon’s way of inspiring his side to fight off his nearest competitor and there’s nothing wrong with that, but to get too defensive when he refuses to bow graciously? Hardly seems a “prick of the highest order” to me.
Posted from
United States -
As I said above, it just shows a distinct lack of class on Benitez’ part. Every manager loses, and even Ferguson (who’s won so many) is gracious in defeat. And I have to disagree that having won 11 of 18 makes the ones that got away hurt less. I’d bet my house that Fergie still looks back on titles that have been lost, from the 9 point lead lost in 97/98 to the draw with West Ham in 94/95 that handed Blackburn the title, they all still sting.
Of course Rafa is going to be unhappy that they didn’t win the league, but he should keep it to himself in my opinion. He showed a real lack of professionalism by refusing to congratulate the league-winning manager.
You shouldn’t like defeat, but you should be able to take it graciously.
Posted from
Ireland -
Come on, Wayne. I get it, I really do. The endless stream of hyperbole about four quotes in an interview is ridiculous. Yeah, Rafa went off the deep end earlier in the year and is stubborn as a mule, and sometimes as bright as one. Should he have made a point to exclude Fergie from his congratulations? No. But it’s not quite the case that Hiddink or Wenger were going out of their way–”…and the manager” and “…congratulations to him” respectively. Rafa declined when given the opportunity. Horrors. This whole concept that Rafa’s a classless individual on the basis of his public lack of compatibility with another manager is insane. I doubt they’ll be hosting any fundraisers together, they probably won’t take vacation at the same resort, and that’s fine for me. Like you, I’d prefer Rafa express these sorts of opinions behind closed doors, which I’m sure he does as well, but to have an uproar over comments like this seems a bit much. These are public figures that don’t always manage to handle themselves appropriately–Fergie’s no exception, Hiddink’s no exception, Wenger’s no exception, and Rafa Benitez is clearly no exception. I completely agree that his focus needs to be on Liverpool instead of anyone else, and I’m hoping the break in action over the summer will see all this nonsense fall by the wayside. Now I’m back to drinking, and no, I won’t congratulate you, but I will congratulate your blog.
Posted from
United States -
Nice last line Ed. Don’t think I’m making a big deal about this. i don’t think it’s a massive story, nor do I think there has been uproar, I just thought it was worth writing.
And let’s face it Ed, this is a Man Utd blog, and we don’t much like Rafa ’round these here parts.
Posted from
Ireland -
Didn’t mean that you were making a huge deal out of it, just that all the sources reporting it are, as usual, sensationalizing. No offense meant, just reacting to what I’ve read most everywhere else, so I may have come off a bit harsh. Loss of title hopes + copious amounts of booze = lack of discretion. Come to think of it, maybe Rafa just needs a breathalyzer.
Posted from
United States -
Not just Rafa, Fergie’s complexion hardly suggests he’s a teetotaler either.
Posted from
Ireland -
Ed, you’re right, the issue hardly needs sensationalising. However it does hint of pettiness, especially after all the events of this season.
Never mind, cant wait for the 27th!*rubs hands*
Posted from
Australia -
By ‘it’ I meant Rafa’s behaviour ofc, not Wayne’s post. Of which much fun has been had Rafa’s sore-loserness.
Posted from
Australia
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