i smell a rat

anny road · February 16, 2006

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/sport/fo...fa_respect.html

Fergie has Rafa respect

SIR ALEX Ferguson has praised Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash at Anfield.

The United boss reckons Benitez is a "straightforward guy", and that his qualities helps win over players.

While there is historically intense rivalry between the two clubs, there appears to be nothing but respect between the two bosses.

"I enjoyed his company in the last UEFA coaches' seminar, it was good," Ferguson told www.leaguemanagers.com.

"We sat beside each other on the coach going to the meeting and I think he's a straightforward guy.

"That's good to see and it does your players good, because they can see the quality of the person in terms of success has not changed him.

"That is vital in modern day football because the one thing we don't like to see is people change within our own confines.

"I don't like to see United players change and I'm sure that Rafael is the same. He doesn't want to see his players change.

"Managers like Rafael put the marker down about what they are and hopefully it transfers itself to the players."

Ferguson was at Anfield in midweek to honour Bob Paisley, who died 10 ten years ago this week.

Memories

The United boss has nothing but good memories of the former Liverpool manager and a picture of the two men graces the wall in his office.

Ferguson recalled: "The photograph was taken when he came to one of our games here and I'd gone up to do the press.

"Somebody said `Bob Paisley would like to meet you and have a chat with you.' I'd just arrived (in England) and I think he was welcoming me.

"The thing that came across about Bob Paisley, of course, was his humility, he was an ordinary man who didn't quite fit with the glamour of success too well.

"He would have been quite happy with his slippers and his pipe, or his pint of beer and not bother with all the trappings of what Liverpool FC could offer, because they were very successful under him."

Ferguson added: "When I was manager of Scotland I used to talk to (Graeme) Souness, (Kenny) Dalglish, (Alan) Hansen and (Steve) Nicol about Bob.

"They used to laugh about how ordinary a guy he was and that he was running this big football team.

"They loved him and he was very well liked by the players, because he was sort of a cuddly granddad type for them. I think that was the thing that really impressed me."

realtarragona · February 16, 2006

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