i never thought LIVERPOOL were good enough fr the title anyway , but then again , MAN UTD r anything but convincing ........it seems like the PREMIER LEAGUE seems t'be going through a transition of some sort , with both CHELSEA , n' ARSENAL r great deal below their best ......
dr.amer | 2009-01-16 10:23:50
| isb
well , how shall i start ............whoever saw STEVE BENNET's reaction to ROONEY's consistent show of petulance answer's the question .....YES , both the REFEREES n' THE FA have been favourable to MAN UTD on a consistent basis but whenever something like RAFA's coments takes place , the FA commitee goes an extramile or rather overboard to show their displeasure ........had RAFA BENITEZ not commented earlier , maybe STEVE BENNET might have booked ROONEY but he didn't .........
whether RAFA should've made those coments is another topic , but he does have a point .....
gunner4 | 2009-01-15 06:54:03
First let me say I am an Arsenal fan. I have no bias if anything I would say I am slightly more anti-Ferguson than anything else.
Sadly, this is not a game of who is right and who is wrong. It is not a question of how calm or not Benitez appeared. It is not a question of how the media portrays events, they twist and exaggerate everything, a deeply cynical & mistrustful public know this. It is not a question of deflecting pressure from your team. It is more basic and primal. It is a simple case of the playground bully wanting to get a reaction. Any reaction equals victory. Maybe it's not fair but that is the game. The moment Benitez spoke he lost. It's a real shame.
Fletch | 2009-01-14 13:06:24
| Colwyn Bay | United Kingdom
It appears you are letting your friendship with Rafa cloud your judgement. Benitez is entering a game with Ferguson which he cannot win. If he wanted to put pressure on United before the Chelsea game, he should have done it after the stoke game, and only if Liverpool had won. Fergie told Liverpool before their game they might crack under pressure, and following Benitez's outburst, they did. 1-0 Ferguson. 2-0 Ferguson came when Torres (see sky website) admits he disagrees with his own manager about what he said about Man utd. Just beacuse Rafa had pre-planned his rant, unlike Keegan in 1996, does not mean that it wasn't a foolish thing to do. And just beacuse you say something, and say 'fact' at the end of your sentence, doesn't make it so.
TheRed | 2009-01-14 12:15:14
| belfast | Ireland
Ignore what the manc's are saying, they just can't stand the thought of Liverpool being on the rise again. Oh how times are a changing once again. Prepare for Liverpool's era of dominance under Rafael Benitez, bitches. I agree with you Guillem, I'm glad someone has finally came out and rightfully defended Rafa. What annoys me is these pundits and such, blowing everything out of proportion claiming that the season is over for Liverpool. I'm not sure what sort of future telling device they have but i'm willing to bet it's dark, hairy and full of CRAP.
DF | 2009-01-14 11:47:15
| United Kingdom
Nice try Guillem but anyone who pulls out an A4 sheet of paper about bias toward an opponent is off his rocker. Its not even true that United get any more favours than Liverpool. Check the story in the Telegraph the other day - SAF is the only manager who has actually received a ban as part of the respect campaign.
Also SAF was correct when he said they haven't got experience of winning the premiership - they haven't - its a statement of fact and the fact this will lead to nerves is conjecture. Sure SAF goes off on one now and again but he doesn't go and write it on an A4 sheet for a press conference lol!
Pak 'Mat | 2009-01-14 11:21:25
| Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia
Scolari is out of his league (sic).
It's about time somebody put the knife (figuratively speaking) into Ferguson. It won't stop the bugger moaning but it might give everyone else the courage to stand up and be counted.
eccy | 2009-01-13 19:47:21
| manchester | United Kingdom
Guillem sir, i usually think you have a great insight, however this time you've got it totally wrong. Fergie saying that he thought liverpool were a threat is the biggest complement you can get from fergie. Surely the best thing to do would be to just get on with winning matches and then if they won the league then make the statements from a position of strength?? Now rafa has made these comments HIS position will be under scrutiny and the pressure will actually increase. The sad truth is that Fergie gets away with so much because he has won so much for so long. He saw off Wenger, Mouriniho and next comes Rafa. Hope the bleating scousers enjoy the run in. Cheers
addernoire | 2009-01-13 19:26:03
| Shropshire | United Kingdom
Rafa benitez has done nothing of a sort. When he made that statement, SAF would have just treated it with contempt as he does. When Rafa made that statement he was hoping that it would get under Manchester United's skin and destabilise them before the match against Chelsea. What the rant had done in fact was inspire Manchester United, it was the kick up the backside they needed.
Peter | 2009-01-13 16:33:43
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
Even if there were no 'mind games' prior to the weekends games we still would have drew at Stoke, and United still would have beat Chelsea. We haven't been setting the world alight and we are lucky to still be top (although two United wins will change that). This tit-for-tat spat has merely hidden the fact that we aren't taking our chances.
I am slightly worried that we are the only contenders for the Title alongside United though. It is our first proper title race in years and i have my doubts we can win it this season, particularly because of the aforementioned reasons. Rafa was right to defend his team, but by countering with an attack he had to make sure his team could/can do the business.
Fitz | 2009-01-13 09:50:16
| Perth, | Australia
i always read your opinions, balague. but i must say you always seem to favour liverpool in your analysis. i completely understand seeing you are spanish. the fact is that rafa has allowed fergie to get to him and you could see rafa was visibly upset during his 'rant'. the situation is simple: its now advantage man utd. they have destiny in their own hands. one thing you dont want is having man utd breathing down your neck because you are constantly looking over your shoulder insteand not concentrating on your own performances. thats exactly what happened on saturday and to make it worse, utd put up a stunning performance against chelsea. obviously rafa was hoping to time his rant with a difficult match for utd but it backfired badly.
coachpotato | 2009-01-12 19:23:56
| Wirral | United Kingdom
Would it not have been better for Rafa to have spoken to the players about Fergusons comments and said nothing to the outside world? As Bob Paisley would have done?
Instead, Rafa has now lined himself up for Fergusons "chums" in the media in the UK to denigrate and belittle him every time his players fall short of the mark, as against Stoke. I applaud Rafa for placing himself in the way of criticism, but feel he'd have been better adopting the old Liverpool way of doing the talking on the pitch!!
Incidentally, why not suggest Dalglish be given the role of Public Relations man for LFC, i'm sure he'd keep Ferguson in his place!!
The best act by Rafa was to leave the dogs barking, but at the end he had to stand up to AF's aggressive comments, and defend his team!
- Rafa was absolutely right to defend his team, although they didn't back their manager- gifting Rafa's critics a whip to beat him!(not the team) so his tactic(diverging the attention away of the team, and puting himself in fire worked).
2- Chelsea are out of the race, not prepared neither mentally nor tactically.
3- it'll be a dirty battle between 2 fierce rivals and what a battle.
4-A tame hit back by fergie, saying that rafa's comments were ridiculous
5-Rafa was calling for an even-handed use of the 'respect' mandate, & lost justice
Adam | 2009-01-12 15:26:03
| London | United Kingdom
First came Keegan, then came Benitez, then came Balague-your comments suggest that the criticism of Benitez in the British media has got under your skin quite a lot too by the sounds of it!
The problem now is that when Liverpool eventually choke due to not being good enough, people will look to Benitez's outburst as a turning point when it probably wasn't at all. Liverpool are over-achieving with the squad they have and will fall away because Manchester United are better than them and are far better equipped to compete in three competitions with the squad they have.
Benitez actions will, come May, take the shine off an outstanding season in which the third best squad ran the leaders closer than they ever have done before.
Mairek | 2009-01-12 12:19:16
| Malta
Guillem, you have said throughout the season that you think the title race is between Liverpool and Chelsea.Do you still believe this?.United will win the title with 5 games to spare and are as far ahead of the rest as any time in the past.Terrible team selection, tactics and performances from Lucas and Benayoun in particular.
fid1892 | 2009-01-12 09:42:48
| United Kingdom
At last !! Someone puts into words a reasoned and intelligent precis of exactly why Rafa came out with his 'rant at Fergie.'
Some of the claptrap that has been spouted in the media this weekend has highlighted exactly how far up Slur Alex's rectum they have burrowed, and how scared they are of saying anything that can be construed as doubting him in any way whatsoever.
The simple fact of the matter is that Fergie IS nervous, and rightly so. Rafa DID deflect the spotlight from his players for the time being, and this was a fortunate thing considering they played so poorly on Saturday.
The league is still in Liverpool's hands though - win all their games and the title is coming home ....
Jonathan | 2009-01-12 00:16:08
| Finland
No matter what his intentions were, Benitez has made this weekend's win an even bigger one for United and thus surely not helped Liverpools cause to challenge for the title.
Going into the thick end of the season, I believe these mental twists and turns will prove decisive.
And looking at the characteristica this Liverpool squad posseses, I think not to their advantage.
There is an apparent weakness in heaping high pressure on deepsitting opposition, and if every other games comes down to that one chance at the end, pressure will be a decisive factor.
poota | 2009-01-11 22:04:31
| port talbot | United Kingdom
Guillem, you clearly dont know much about british mentalies.
Fergie(the master) has got Rafa hook, line and sinker.This is another keeganesque blowout of pressure from an angry man. His team are going to suffer because of it, t(he start was against stoke).
He just should have shut up and took it like a man.
Foolish, foolish man. que?
intercityjibber | 2009-01-11 19:45:45
| sale | United Kingdom
As a Man Utd fan all i will say is, thanks for the pep talk Rafa. Muchos gracias.
celia | 2009-01-11 15:00:19
| Jakarta | Indonesia
Hi Guillem,
I want to say that i completely agree with you. I think that SAF is always acting like he is the KING OF EPL.. and for the past couple of years he has always been complaining without thinking about other teams. He has been showing inappropriate behaviors and no one ever dares to react to it but Benitez, and I think that the other EPL managers should be thankful for this. I am not sure about "who will be under whose skin" but i am clearly hoping that Liverpool will win the title this season so it could be a big lesson for both Manu and Fergie.
HUM | 2009-01-11 13:18:41
| Nigeria
Guillem, I actually do not agree with you and I am a liverpool supporter. I watched the Benitez\'s comments on TV and I felt he overreacted as he was visibly angry and couldnt get the words out quickly enough. I personally think Benitez allowed Ferguson to get to him and because he handled the situation badly, it affected the players in yesterdays match aginst stoke. Liverpool have a great chance to win title this year, but I cannot help but agree with Wengers comments that we\'ll drop points due to Benitez\'s over bearance and also Fergussions comments that cannot handle pressure as evidenced by Benitez\'s reaction.
Neil | 2009-01-11 12:36:26
| edinburgh | United Kingdom
Superbly put Guillem. Reading some of the rubbish in the Sunday papers shows how "mr" Ferguson has brain washed the media over the years.
And you got it right to. Liverpool played poorly against Stoke and all the media are talking about is Rafa.....
Adopted Scouser | 2009-01-11 12:16:10
| Malta
Hi Guillem,
Wonderful piece of writing. Enjoyed it sooo much.
Rafa was spot on. I really love him, he's the only one who isn't afraid of Mr.Ferguson. Although we slipped up at Stoke, I'm sure we'll be back more determined. I really believe in this side who can land us the premier league since 1990. And Rafa is the only one who can do so. Believed it since 16th July 2004.
Bye for now.
You'll Never Walk Alone
lilcookie | 2009-01-11 11:16:51
| Germany
As much as I think that he's mostly right about what he said about SAF, I don't think that he did right by actually mentioning those "facts" during yesterday's press conference.
super mario | 2009-01-11 09:08:11
| liverpool | United Kingdom
campaign plan.1 continue media assault upon fergie bulling referees ,fa mistake not to punishing him over hackett comments.2 increase selection of referee pressure in build up to old trafford showdown in march(gotta be webb).3highlight last years abuse of torres prior to his booking ,all forgotten due to masch's inexperienced over reaction.Emphasise bennett roll then and in denying wigan penalty4 predict ferdinand/vidic treatment of torres in march knowing they will be safe at the scared referee zone that is old trafford.5in last 5 years how many utd penalties /sending offs ratio to visiting teams 6With ronaldo to madrid and fergie retiring (june 09)who will get of the fence andtell the truth ,who will join mr poll????
little rafa (prit) | 2009-01-11 00:08:18
| Birmingham | United Kingdom
Dear Guillem, a great read and as always interesting to hear your thoughts on the event.
I think Rafa's unwavering courage and self control were exemplary in 'talking about the facts'. I also think he is fully aware of the pressure that Mr Ferguson has placed on himself. Clearly Mr Ferguson would like to overtake Liverpool's league title record and cement his own legacy.
Giving himself 2-3 more seasons in charge at Manchester he now see's himself confronted by the strongest Liverpool team in years.
And Rafa's hidden message is that Liverpool will not only be fighting for the title this season, but every single year that he is at the helm!
peter | 2009-01-10 22:38:18
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
Fantastic timing for Benitez to come out and say what he has.
United have all the top teams travelling to Old Trafford in the second half of the season and Benitez has placed an element of doubt in the minds of the referees, they will be going into the games and making an extra effort not to look biased towards Utd.
Secondly, what ever Fergie now comes out and says to the press, Benitez has already pre-empted it and can write it off as mind games.
By taking the pressure off the team he has done a comendable job now all I want is for the board to put a new contract infront of him and ask him to sign.
Keens | 2009-01-10 20:45:02
| Johannesburg | South Africa
Sadly the Liverpool players did not back Rafa up today.....
obical | 2009-01-10 20:39:36
| London | United Kingdom
Hi Guillem,
I think what Rafa said was right. Ferguson needs to be stood up to.
I've got two questions.
1. In your opinion will Rafa sign a new contract at Liverpool?
2. I've just watched the Stoke game. It was an awful performance from us. Lucas Levia was really - really bad. He had a good start to his Liverpool career but he seems to have taken about 10 steps backwards. Do you think Benitez will let him go and bring in another central midfielder to cover for Alonso?
Thanks for giving us updates on Rafa's contract. At a time when the club's future off the pitch is in the balance, it's nice to know what is actually going on.
Ziswandy | 2009-01-10 19:29:15
| Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia
My view over here is, I think, most of the other managers think about the same with Rafa, but, they are trying to play the mind game the way mr.Ferguson want it. Now, Rafa has another idea & another way - come out with the blund 'Facts' - and he delivered them with the most calm, confidents & no pressure way - point blank. Not to mention how strong all the 'Facts' are. Why now? Because he feel now is the right time. Why he feel so? You could ask Rafa about that.
All in all, the best Mr.Ferguson & his fans can feel is, thinking that Rafa has fallen into their mind game. Only time will tell.
Ziswandy | 2009-01-10 19:28:14
| Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia
Couldn't agree more with you Guillem on 'He has deflected the attention from his players and turned it upon himself". That reason has come into my mind. This showing how a great leader he is & how he want to take this season under his control. And I coundn't agree more with what he is saying.
sf | 2009-01-10 19:18:28
| Ireland
When will Agger and Rafa be signing new contracts?.Rafa should of kept his mouth shut ,winning the prem will say it all !.
Scott | 2009-01-10 18:27:09
| Laguna Beach | United States
Guillem,
I've been following the Premier League for the past 15 years and have seen the same thing year after year with Ferguson. I'm glad that finally someone, Benitez, has come out and spoken about it. They get away with anything, the penalties awarded record to visiting teams at Old Trafford is ridiculous!
Man Utd are the only team that totally disregards the Respect campaign and week in, week out every decision made against them gets protested by their players surrounding the referee's on the pitch, they are the only team that gets away with it without getting booked and you can see it by the example Ferguson sets to his players.
Barz | 2009-01-10 16:41:42
| York, Maine | United States
When I watched the "lead-in" to this story on Sky Sports, and they described Rafa's comments as "an outburst" and "an attack", I was half-expecting to see Rafa wild-eyed, jumping up and down on the table, foaming at the mouth! Was there evidence of some emotion in his words? For sure. Understandably. Appropriately. However, I thought that his words were well-considered, measured and spot-on. Alex Ferguson (and by extension, Man Utd.), has had the benefit of his own personal set of rules/guideline for much too long, and credit to Graham Poll for echoing Rafa' comments.
Mode (MADrid REDS) | 2009-01-10 16:34:21
| Madrid | Spain
Calculated risk by Rafa... and it is already geting the reaction he wanted (in the main) from the media, refs and hopefully his own players.
Rafa is creating a seige like mentallity that will hit home all the way to #19 in May.
This marks a before and after in terms of any LFC fans/staff-players inferiority complexed as far as Man Utd is concerned... and long may it last.
IRWT (for a long, long time to come)
Bee | 2009-01-10 16:25:53
| London | United Kingdom
Fergie has been in 16 proper title challenges whilst Rafa counting Spain has only been in about 6. Did you really think Fergie's comments were just throw away and he wasn't expecting Benitez's response? His best answer would have been silence, but i guess he isn't as smart as that. He has given Fergie exactly what he wanted. Now watch Fergie reply with some one- liner. I doubt he'll come up with a rant of his own. Rafa's response was well planned and delivered, but he has just played into Fergie's hands. Well Done!
HMH | 2009-01-10 14:49:03
| London | United Kingdom
Agree completely with the article. Not sure why its being referred to as a rant. I would suggest one thing however. I am not so sure that Rafa was simply defending the dressing room, he certainly achieved that and it is important that he did that, but Sir Alex has attacked liverpool before while Rafa has been in charge, so why such a decisive counter this time? I put it to you that the timing, i.e. before a big test for Utd at Chelsea at least might unsettle UTD. More importantly, with UTD playing the top ten at Old Trafford in the 2nd half of the season, Rafa has given every visiting manager to Old Trafford (most of whom Mr Balague correctly points out agree with Rafa) ammunition with which to fight the off field battles with Sir Alex.
Craig | 2009-01-10 14:16:05
| Sittingbourne | United Kingdom
I agree with Guillem, in that Rafa has simply bided his time. Ferguson is not the God of football managers as much as he thinks he is. I have to say im glad Rafa sees this also and has finally spoken out, something in which almost all other managers seem afraid of doing. I don't even consider Manchester United for the title this year, it's going to be between Liverpool and Chelsea. All Ferguson ever does is complain and moan and look for excuses when his team loses rather than take any responsibility for himself and his players and just accept they got beaten!!
VAMOS RAFA! ~ I am in full support of all your comments!
Sean | 2009-01-10 14:15:34
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
COuldn't agree more Guillem. The players have played in the European Cup Final twice, 2 semis in the last 4 years in the CL also. They have played Chelsea in an FA cup semi and also in the FA Cup final. Teh SPanish lads have played in the Euro Championships Final also....
Suppose my point is that why would they be more nervous than the United players? How many of them have done it at the highest level internationally?
Fergie has met a new match after Mourinho left him for dust when he was here...
Thamu | 2009-01-10 14:02:24
| Birmingham | United Kingdom
Guillem has given the most pragmatic analysis of this whole situation so far. Alex Ferguson and Man Utd have been allowed to ride roughshod over refs and officials for too long and all Rafa did was deliver a thinking man's response. It is the partisan media in the UK who have taken the interview and inflated it to look like a rant so as to make headlines. Well done Rafa and well done Liverpool, Fergie has finally met his match.
graet read, guiellem... at last someone speaks out against the tyrant from manchester. united have had it their way far too often... diving, marauding around referres, intimidation in the tunnel.....i really hope liverpool take the title this year, they are far more the decent, respected, disciplined and revered team in england....and they always ( well almost always..giventhe 2 yanks), conduct themselves superbly, the anfield way. YNWA
Simon | 2009-01-10 13:24:29
| Chester | United Kingdom
What you haven't pointed out is that Benitez DID complain about his fixtures in 2007 yet in his rant yesterday he says he didn't so for one that is not a fact. Also you can't go round calling referees a cheat which is what he has done here. Just admit he's feeling the pressure! All Ferguson said was that his players will get nervous! Is that so bad?
Keens | 2009-01-10 13:21:08
| Johannesburg | South Africa
Good on you Mr. Benitez, now go and beat Stoke!
JJ | 2009-01-10 13:16:29
| Devon | United Kingdom
Come on - he might as well have used a powerpoint presentation.... this was not as bad as Keegan but he sure seems to have let Ferguson anger him which is all Sir Alex wanted.....
Franciz | 2009-01-10 13:06:29
| Sydney | Australia
Of course, I agree with you. Should I agree at the stupid comment sof those Man U fans?
