Let the games begin...

[Montse]

Benitez hoping to bury the hatchet in with Mourinho Sep 14 2006

 

By Ian Doyle, Daily Post

 

 

RAFAEL BENITEZ yesterday called on Jose Mourinho to shake hands and bring an end to the public fall-out between the managerial duo.

 

Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge to face Premiership champions Chelsea this Sunday with the build-up once again set to be dominated by the frosty relations between Benitez and Mourinho.

 

The Portuguese has rarely seen eye-to-eye with his Anfield counterpart ever since Chelsea were eliminated by Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2005.

 

Mourinho refused to shake hands with Benitez following Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool last April, and the duo again failed to follow the traditional post-match protocol after Liverpool's Community Shield win over the Londoners in Cardiff last month, with both managers hinting the other should have made the first move.

 

But now Benitez believes the time has come for Mourinho to draw a line under his issues with Liverpool.

 

 

"The problem's been that, in the build-up to these games, people are always talking about things that have nothing to do with football and, because we talk about this all the time ahead of these games, I think it's now time to stop speaking about it," said the Liverpool manager.

 

"If he wants to shake hands, I don't have any problems with that. I will shake his hand. I prefer to talk about football than these small things.

 

I'll give to him the opportunity to shake hands if he wants.

 

"We'll go down there and be his guests on Sunday. At the end of the game, I will wait and see if he offers his hand. If he does, then I'll shake it. Not a problem."

 

Mourinho has become increasingly disparaging towards Liverpool during his time in charge at Chelsea, leading to the unseemly stand-off now threatening to once again overshadow a meeting between the championship-chasing rivals.

 

"Normally, when a manager comes to Anfield and comes to see me, I'll welcome him and offer him all the best for the season," added Benitez.

 

"I don't want to keep talking about it. I think that, originally, we were fine. After the Champions League game when we drew here (in September 2005), we started having some problems.

 

"I've never spoken about his team, about how they play, so for me it's time to finish with this situation. People should be talking about football. We should be talking about things on the pitch, not matters off it."

 

[JohnnyH]

Why can't Rafa just have done the decent thing and added the words "concerning that daft c***" to the end of the last comment.

[Nerik]

Coz he ain't Jose!

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Mind games - I suppose that is trying to say the unexpected to gain an upper hand ?

 

This definitely pours cold water on any attempts that Jose may have to stoke up some flames and make it appear that everyone hates Chelsea.

[Tobes Rafa]

I notice that he says he will shake Mourinho's hand if he comes up to him but he also says that at Anfield he expects other managers to come to him too. If he expects other managers to offer their hand when playing at Anfield then surely he should be the one to offer Mourinho HIS hand at the Bridge. Imagine the reaction if Rafa offered his hand and Mourinho ignored it - it would certainly prove that it is Mourinho who is the instigator in all this bad feeling (especially when we win!)

[Boca]

I notice that he says he will shake Mourinho's hand if he comes up to him but he also says that at Anfield he expects other managers to come to him too. If he expects other managers to offer their hand when playing at Anfield then surely he should be the one to offer Mourinho HIS hand at the Bridge. Imagine the reaction if Rafa offered his hand and Mourinho ignored it - it would certainly prove that it is Mourinho who is the instigator in all this bad feeling (especially when we win!)

 

"Normally, when a manager comes to Anfield and comes to see me, I'll welcome him and offer him all the best for the season," added Benitez.

 

Edit: I suppose you could take your interpretation from that alright.

Edited September 14, 2006 by Boca

[JRC]

I notice that he says he will shake Mourinho's hand if he comes up to him but he also says that at Anfield he expects other managers to come to him too.

 

Does he? I read it that he will act as the host to Jose when they are at Anfield, and 'offer him the best' - not wait for Jose to come to him.

[Coyler]

Let the game begin on Sunday, ffs.

[Bigal]

And watch rafa hoof him in the nuts?

[allez les rouges]

I notice that he says he will shake Mourinho's hand if he comes up to him but he also says that at Anfield he expects other managers to come to him too. If he expects other managers to offer their hand when playing at Anfield then surely he should be the one to offer Mourinho HIS hand at the Bridge. Imagine the reaction if Rafa offered his hand and Mourinho ignored it - it would certainly prove that it is Mourinho who is the instigator in all this bad feeling (especially when we win!)

 

the point is, rafa has never refused to shake hands. its the other little t*** who does.

[floyd]

And watch rafa hoof him in the nuts?

No, let Rafa tell Mourinhio he has shoe lace undone. When he looks down to examine it, Rafa takes a step back and fvckin launches his right boot into the smarmy cvnts face. Now that would be worth a 3 match touchline ban me thinks.

Edited September 14, 2006 by floyd

[Bigal]

No, let Rafa tell Mourinhio he has shoe lace undone. When he looks down to examine it, Rafa takes a step back and fvckin launches his right boot into the smarmy cvnts face. Now that would be worth a 3 match touchline ban me thinks.

 

I like that, or shake his hand and then tell he's spilt on his shirt, and then poke him in the eye

Edited September 14, 2006 by Bigal

[Stew F]

No, let Rafa tell Mourinhio he has shoe lace undone. When he looks down to examine it, Rafa takes a step back and fvckin launches his right boot into the smarmy cvnts face. Now that would be worth a 3 match touchline ban me thinks.

More like 3 months at Her Majestys pleasure

[Montse]

Or praps Rafa should do the same comedy handshake that that kid did to Stevie in the tunnel at Chelsea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4v1OUl4TMs

[Stevie H]

so boring. mourinho loves this s*** though, just focuses more attention on him, the egotistical tagnut.

[Phil236849]

i think rafa should say that he respects chelsea although its not surprising they've had a bit of success given they are far richer than any other club. demeaning jose's achievements is what gets him really riled

 

 

oh, and we all think ashley's a phucking @rsewipe

[realtarragona]

I can't even remember how this 'feud' started. Isn't it just one way from Mourinho anyway...