Hicks questions Rafa policy

Liverpool owner reignites row with dig at Benitez

Last updated: 29th December 2007

Hicks questions Rafa policy

Hicks: Fresh swipe at Rafa Benitez

Our team played like they mentally didn't think they were good enough to win. They played tight.

Hicks on Liverpool's defeat by Man United
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Liverpool owner Tom Hicks has accused Anfield manager Rafael Benitez of behaving petulantly in the recent dispute over transfer policy.

The American also fears the players were suffering from an inferiority complex in the recent defeat to Manchester United.

The comments, in an interview with Sports Illustrated, risk reviving the tension between Benitez and Hicks and his co-owner George Gillett.

Hicks revisited the row over transfers, which saw Benitez accuse the American duo of failing to understand the European transfer market.

"We wanted to see what we could do with the players we had already bought," said Hicks. "We just wanted to see if the team was going to gel. Then he (Benitez) went to a press conference and kind of pouted and answered in the same way 20 times: 'I'm focusing on my team.'

"The media made up everything from that point forward. They made up that we were going to fire him, that I told him to shut up, that there was a battle between Benitez and the Americans. It's really funny to watch."

Hicks was dismayed at the players' attitude against United at Anfield when a 1-0 defeat left Liverpool off the pace in the Premier League title race.

He said: "Our team played like they mentally didn't think they were good enough to win. They played tight."

Comments (1)

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Christopher Johnston (Fulham fan) says...

Hicks has no idea about the game of footbal and should stop commenting on performances. Liverpool dominated the game against man utd and were very unfortuneate not to have won. United scored a lucky goal because of benayouns mistake which sam him keep tevez on side. Liverpool did not look intimidated by man utd and this ludicrous statement shows how inexperienced Hicks is in the world of football.

Posted 22:26 31st December 2007
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