Exclusive: Fergie attempts to bury hatchet with Rafa - FACT!
Sir Alex Ferguson has tried to make his peace with Rafa Benitez before Sunday's Premier League showdown between Manchester United and Liverpool.
The pair have been enemies ever since Benitez accused Fergie of receiving favourable treatment from officials in the Liverpool boss's infamous 'facts' outburst.
And Fergie accused Rafael Benitez of "arrogance" and showing "contempt" to fellow Premier League managers with his touchline conduct and barbed comments.
But in his programme notes ahead of Sunday's lunchtime showdown at Old Trafford, Fergie offered an olive branch by revealing his "sympathy" for under-fire Anfield boss Benitez.
Fergie cited the huge pressure and expectation on Benitez at Liverpool as unfair but said the tremendous demands on managers were a cold reality of the modern game.
Although Fergie has had his fall-outs with Benitez, the United boss spoke of his huge respect for his rival and hailed Liverpool as a big club with a great history.
Benitez is under huge pressure after a dismal season in which Liverpool have failed to sustain a title challenge and made early exits from the Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.
Liverpool winger Albert Rieira has called the club a "sinking ship" under Benitez, amid claims star players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard could quit at the end of the season.
But rather than gloating at the demise of United's rivals, Fergie said he empathised with Benitez, having been through a similar situation in his early years at Old Trafford.
The United boss pointed out that he "had been there" in reference to his early struggle at United and repeated his belief that sacking a manager was no guarantee of success.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-attempts-to-bury-hatchet-with-Rafa-Benitez-by-expressing-sympathy-for-Liverpool-boss-Exclusive-article360091.html
Sir Alex Ferguson has tried to make his peace with Rafa Benitez before Sunday's Premier League showdown between Manchester United and Liverpool.
The pair have been enemies ever since Benitez accused Fergie of receiving favourable treatment from officials in the Liverpool boss's infamous 'facts' outburst.
And Fergie accused Rafael Benitez of "arrogance" and showing "contempt" to fellow Premier League managers with his touchline conduct and barbed comments.
But in his programme notes ahead of Sunday's lunchtime showdown at Old Trafford, Fergie offered an olive branch by revealing his "sympathy" for under-fire Anfield boss Benitez.
Fergie cited the huge pressure and expectation on Benitez at Liverpool as unfair but said the tremendous demands on managers were a cold reality of the modern game.
Although Fergie has had his fall-outs with Benitez, the United boss spoke of his huge respect for his rival and hailed Liverpool as a big club with a great history.
Benitez is under huge pressure after a dismal season in which Liverpool have failed to sustain a title challenge and made early exits from the Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.
Liverpool winger Albert Rieira has called the club a "sinking ship" under Benitez, amid claims star players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard could quit at the end of the season.
But rather than gloating at the demise of United's rivals, Fergie said he empathised with Benitez, having been through a similar situation in his early years at Old Trafford.
The United boss pointed out that he "had been there" in reference to his early struggle at United and repeated his belief that sacking a manager was no guarantee of success.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-attempts-to-bury-hatchet-with-Rafa-Benitez-by-expressing-sympathy-for-Liverpool-boss-Exclusive-article360091.html
