BENITEZ insists he is ready to fight Ferguson on the touchline
thesun
RAFA BENITEZ insists he is ready to fight Alex Ferguson on the touchline.
The warring bosses meet today as Chelsea take on Manchester United with the Blues looking to cement a Champions League spot.
Chelsea chief Benitez said: The manager is there and you are close to him on the touchline, so if he wants to fight, you have to fight. I dont like any confrontation but obviously you want to stand up. I dont have any problem with that.
Fergie and Benitez have been sniping at each other since the Spaniard was at Liverpool.
The United boss has previously accused Benitez of disrespect on the touchline and the pair did not shake hands when they met in the FA Cup earlier in the season.
This week, Fergie reignited the feud by saying his Chelsea rival was interested only in making his own CV look good.
But Benitez hit back at Fergies famous mind games.
He added: I like to concentrate on football issues, that is the main thing, tactically and details about the game.
In England, sometimes you talk about mind games but, if you have a very good team, you will win the mind games.
The mind games is just an excuse when you dont want to talk about the other things.
Benitez earned a reputation at Anfield as one of the few managers willing to go toe-to-toe with Fergie.
That included his famous fact rant of 2009 when he launched an incredible verbal attack on his rival during a tense title race.
This time, there is no pressure on United as they have already been crowned champions.
But Chelsea go to Old Trafford knowing they need to avoid defeat to stay on track for an all-important top-four finish.
The warring bosses meet today as Chelsea take on Manchester United with the Blues looking to cement a Champions League spot.
Chelsea chief Benitez said: The manager is there and you are close to him on the touchline, so if he wants to fight, you have to fight. I dont like any confrontation but obviously you want to stand up. I dont have any problem with that.
Fergie and Benitez have been sniping at each other since the Spaniard was at Liverpool.
The United boss has previously accused Benitez of disrespect on the touchline and the pair did not shake hands when they met in the FA Cup earlier in the season.
This week, Fergie reignited the feud by saying his Chelsea rival was interested only in making his own CV look good.
But Benitez hit back at Fergies famous mind games.
He added: I like to concentrate on football issues, that is the main thing, tactically and details about the game.
In England, sometimes you talk about mind games but, if you have a very good team, you will win the mind games.
The mind games is just an excuse when you dont want to talk about the other things.
Benitez earned a reputation at Anfield as one of the few managers willing to go toe-to-toe with Fergie.
That included his famous fact rant of 2009 when he launched an incredible verbal attack on his rival during a tense title race.
This time, there is no pressure on United as they have already been crowned champions.
But Chelsea go to Old Trafford knowing they need to avoid defeat to stay on track for an all-important top-four finish.
