Sam - Rafa humiliated us

Blackburn boss hits out at Liverpool manager

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 17th April 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sam - Rafa humiliated us

Allardyce: Benitez blast

I think they are disrespectful and quite humiliating.

Sam Allardyce.
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Sam Allardyce has launched a scathing attack on Rafa Benitez in the wake of Blackburn's 4-0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield last Saturday.

Allardyce has accused the Spaniard of being 'disrespectful' and 'humiliating' over gestures he made on the touchline after Fernando Torres had headed the home side into a two-goal lead before the interval.

Television replays showed Benitez shrugged his shoulders and then crossed his hands, which Allardyce has taken to mean that the Reds boss felt the game was already over, even though there was almost an hour still to play.

Relegation-threatened Rovers, who were second best throughout the match, were missing several players through injury and employed centre-back Chris Samba in a lone striking role.

Allardyce claims he attempted to speak to Benitez about his actions after the game but could not make contact with the Spaniard and has been left fuming by the incident.

Humiliating

He told Sky Sports News: "It's not out of our system for two reasons. One is the disappointment at the way the team performed. I know we had a lot of injuries on the day, but I still felt that we should have gone there and done better than we did.

"And two, is the unfortunate gestures from Rafa Benitez after the second goal. I wanted to clarify his gestures. I think you'll see them as pretty dismissive to me and to Blackburn Rovers' team as a whole.

"I think they are disrespectful and quite humiliating.

"I waited to have a word with Rafa Benitez in his room after the game but as usual, and unfortunately, he didn't turn up.

"I was hugely disappointed by those gestures and having re-looked at them this week I think I'm right and I think everyone will see why I'm complaining."

When asked if he felt Benitez was writing his side off, Allardyce replied: "That was the feeling by the gestures. It was an open arms and a cross-over of arms as if that was it.

"The game is hard enough as it is without a fellow manager trying to do, what seemed to be, an undermining gesture."

Comments (63)

Steve Jones (Liverpool fan) says...

Sam A has completely embarrassed himself and his club by being a puppet for Alex F. If Sam was so upset about Rafa's actions why did'nt he mention it in his immediate post game interviews instead of saying how outclassed and outworked his players were. That would have been the opportune time for clarification, but no, he waited until he had spoken with his "Dark Lord" before he piped up!! Totally embarrassing. Also Alex F is quite the hypocrite on respect for competitors as today's FA Cup Semi shows, the B side he put out was disrespectful not only to his opponents, but the history and importance of this prestigious trophy as well. I suggest that both managers (especially Alex F) get their own acts in order before they comment on others.

Posted 01:28 20th April 2009

J Hanna (Manchester United fan) says...

I have been following FA for over 50 years and never seen such a show put up by a manager like Rafa. He attacks Sir Alex in person and his recent gestures. While look at Sir Alex WHEN he talked about Liverpool, Chelsea etc he said they are top teams and we saw even hug Mourinho because he builds friendship. Rafa also lost touch with some players by buying then selling or just sitting on the bench. A lot of Anfield's great fans, even here in sydney are indeed disenchanted with him as he has not delivered anything for them, except his own fat contract. 2008/9 Scores: R. Benitez = 0 A. Ferguson = 3 ++

Posted 13:31 19th April 2009

James Ross (Liverpool fan) says...

Right, why would a man who watched his team get destroyed by Milan in istanbul after 45 mins, losing 3-0, and go on to win, then think that a 2-0 lead over blacburn after 30 mins meant that the game was over? it makes no sense at all. maybe sam needs to have a quick thought about his rant in a rational way. rafa is a perfectionist and in no way would he think that the game was over let alone signal this after 30 mins. If he had turned to sam and made the signal it might have more credence, but he was clearly facing the pitch and his players who ignored his attempts to direct the freekick a different way.

Posted 11:33 19th April 2009

Phil De souzap (Liverpool fan) says...

At the end of the day, how can you interprete what Benitez meant by that, for all we know he was acknowleging a very good goal by Torres! It's silly on Ferguson and Allardayce's parts because Benitez rarely makes a scene when a goal is scored, unlike Ferguson. So Alex when your team scores a goal next time and you jump off your seat, are you saying game over?

Posted 10:40 19th April 2009

Peter Stewart (Liverpool fan) says...

If Big Sam had brought a decent team then it wouldn't have been over by the second goal. It was an easy win and could have been ten. If a manager wants to make gestures then that's up to him. All managers do it. Fergie is the most disrespectful manager going so what's Fergie moaning about? Just because we beat them twice this season he's sticking his nose in too. Next season, both bring better teams and make a game of it at least then you'll have nothing to moan about.

Posted 10:29 19th April 2009

Pete . (Liverpool fan) says...

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Allardyce was more then happy to take a snipe at Rafa before that match so maybe he should expect a response. And as for Ferguson calling him arrogant!? Take a look in the mirror 'Sir Alex'. Rafa is no saint admittedly but those comments really are rich coming from those 2!

Posted 15:10 18th April 2009

Mark Heydon says...

What is happening to our football, it was once a great game...Now we have people moaning about so called gestures and the offence they cause. Are any of the managers whiter than white. can you Man U fans say the Sir Alex has never done anything at his time there that could not be seen as disrespectful. Is not the way the players dive about and feign injury disrespectful to the fans, do not the managers tell their players to cheat. That is the disrespectful thing about the sport and its the fans who have to pay the price to watch it. If you want to see a more honest and respectful game of football look in the lower divisions.

Posted 11:00 18th April 2009

Nick Lodge (West Ham United fan) says...

Talk about single-minded Liverpool supporters!! How can his actions NOT be dismissive and rude towards Blackburn and Big Sam?! If the same thing happened with Fergie gesturing then everyone would be on his back saying how he's disrespectful but cos its Benitez then suddenly nobody can mention a bad word about him without liverpool fans getting their knickers in a twist. To be perfectly honest I think that if Benitez needs to make such gestures to make himself feel big then good luck to him because lets face it, it doesn't look like their going to be winning any trophies any time soon...

Posted 10:34 18th April 2009

Graham Stevens (Peterborough United fan) says...

OK, so my club (the mighty POSH) aren't in the prem but even I can see this is completed rubbish. Does anyone actually know what Rafa meant by the shrug? NO is the simple answer, there could have been 100 different reasons. I'm afraid to say that Big Sam is struggling now he is away from Bolton and it's showing. Rafa never shows a lot of emotion when his team scores, just because he showed a flicked of emotion this time means nothing. Get over it!!

Posted 09:14 18th April 2009

Rob Sharp (West Ham United fan) says...

This is so desperate Sam. I think its plain to see to any football fan, of whichever team, that Fergie and you have contrived to turn a non-incident into something more. Alls fair in love and war and all that but this just makes you and Fergie look increasingly desperate and makes Blackburn, a club that has long been respected, a bit of a laughing stock. Seems to me that the only people showing disrespect are you - after the week of whinging and sniping at Rafa; and Fergie who probably has shown more disrespect to more clubs in the last two decades than you've had hot dinners mate. I had always known that you were Fergie's lapdog but this has taken it to Blair Bush proportions. What next mate? Accusing Rafa of wearing a loud shirt in a residential area?

Posted 08:53 18th April 2009

Mack Mazza (Manchester United fan) says...

It is very basic that when you are 2-0 or 3-0 up that you still have to respect your opponent at any level of football no matter what team you're up againts .you can celebrate goal thinking you have great chance to win the game but not you have already win the game . so let just wait wt benitez has to comment ..

Posted 05:53 18th April 2009

Neil Beacher (Liverpool fan) says...

Sam wants to take a look at his own actions first and stop effin and blinding at officials. Maybe then he and his team might be respected.

Posted 05:39 18th April 2009

Dave Atkinson (Liverpool fan) says...

You wanna know why he shrugged his shoulders and folding his arms.... watch him in every game. Even when we score he isnt happy, this is because he knows we can do even better and good on him for that... The players look at him and think "well we scored....but we could do it again and maybe better" You don't see him running up and down the pitch like Wenger and Morinho or choking on his stale piece of gum like Fergie or Allardyce [then again when was the last time Big Sam had something to celebrate] Of all the managers in the top 4, nobody gets more abuse than Rafa, Wenger hasnt won anything ot gotten close in 5 years talk about that for a while..... And finally bad mouthing the Liverpool Manager and players, saying they demonstrate disrespect and contempt, during the Hillsborough week is bad form.

Posted 05:26 18th April 2009

Martin Abildgaard (Ebbsfleet United fan) says...

Big Sam is ridiculous! He is angry that RAFA did not pay any attention to him after the way he behaved towards RAFA last season with an astonishing attack. Mind you Big "ridiculous" Sam is best friends with more ridiculous Sir Alex and they have picked the same time to launch an attack on RAFA. The reason being that Sir Alex is afraid Liverpool is coming in so strong that they will win the PL!!

Posted 02:22 18th April 2009

Richard Sheehy (Liverpool fan) says...

Allardyce hates Benitez, Rafa always makes gestures like that...rarely shows much emotion preferring to take notes. It's a nothing story and just a jibe from Sam...Blackburn fans need to see this for what it is,and when Sam is gone hopefully you wont have hard feelings against Liverpool or Rafa over this. Allardyce is just Fergie's sidekick.

Posted 01:02 18th April 2009

Nick Ward (Liverpool fan) says...

Silly old Sam, what is he going on about? To think i once thought he might be good enough to manage the national side! Imagine what he might have said if we had been beaten by a world class outfit like Spain or Brazil..... "look what contempt those spaniads have for us, constantly passing to each other while the crowd go OLE, FIFA must act at once!!!!", thank goodness his failings are being viewed by everyone now, he's a championship manager at best and i only wish Blackburn could have got someone with more ability to try and keep them up!

Posted 00:49 18th April 2009

Chris Owen (Liverpool fan) says...

This is just ridiculous really isn't it? Rafa is well known as the only manager who tries not to celebrate goals because he doesn't want to offend the other team officials, because he wants to show them respect. Now that in itself is being taken as disrespectful! Absolutely bonkers, I wonder if Big Sam would have felt any better if Rafa had done the robot or some other sort of celebratory routine.

Posted 00:49 18th April 2009

Tom Sturman (Middlesbrough fan) says...

Big Sam going on and on and on and on......like he has always done. The guy reminds me of Mike Bassett England manager. And to think people wanted this clown as the England manager....what a joke. I still remember him claiming my team Boro's penalty shouldn't have been allowed at Cardiff because of Bolo's double hit. Now the guy should become a premiership referee if his eyesight is that good! He would make a better ref than manager! (mind u he would command the centre circle with his gut!!) Rovers to go down...up the Boro

Posted 00:40 18th April 2009

Matt Worsley (Liverpool fan) says...

Sam, Sam, Sam; havn't you got more important things to concentrate on?! Why waste your time and effort on such a petty, meaningless incedent? It was clear that the game was over at the point in question! I really do not see why you have raised this issue some 6 days after the game. You will not succeed Fergie, so why panda to him?!!!

Posted 00:40 18th April 2009

Craig Neagus (Luton Town fan) says...

football has become so petty and ridiculous lol. does it really matter if he shrugged his shoulders or believed the game was over? there i no way that is disrespectful unless your very easily offended and take things very personally? you should be free to express whatever you believe in football. fans can, why cant the manager or players?

Posted 22:39 17th April 2009

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