Rafael Benitez hits back at Sam Allardyce

Allardyce, now the Sunderland manager, has a long-running feud with Benitez dating back mainly to his time in charge at Bolton and Blackburn, which coincided with the Spaniard's period at Liverpool from 2004-10.
 

But Allardyce, in his new autobiography 'Big Sam', wrote: "Of course he can say he won the Champions League with Liverpool, which is something I never did. But it was nowt to do with him.

Sam Allardyce says he deserved to be England boss in 2006

"I don't blame Benitez for claiming credit but as managers we know the truth. It's like when you make a substitution in desperation and it comes off. You get all the credit for your tactical brilliance when it's often just luck."

Benitez dismissed this remark, saying: "Do you know who Sam Allardyce is? Do you know how many trophies he has won? Well that's my answer. It is what happens when someone has a book to sell. His opinion does not have a lot of value."

Benitez inherited a squad that includes world-record signing Bale when he took over at Real Madrid in the summer but said he was aware of the Welshman's prodigious talent long before.

"Back in 2006 I went to see Bolton-Southampton," he added. "We transferred a player to Southampton but they wouldn't give us Bale.

"Then when we tried to buy him, we couldn't. I've known for a long time he was a great player."

Benitez now has to deal with Bale on a daily basis and a perceived clash of egos with star player Ronaldo, which he maintains is exaggerated.

He said: "Coaches have to control a group of professionals but not what their agents say. I talk to the players and when there's a conflict, it's solved. There's no problem between Bale and Cristiano.

"Everything is magnified in Madrid. Sometimes it's out of jealousy or to attack. I am surprised."
Allardyce, now the Sunderland manager, has a long-running feud with Benitez dating back mainly to his time in charge at Bolton and Blackburn, which coincided with the Spaniard's period at Liverpool from 2004-10.
 
Benitez oversaw a stunning Champions League victory which saw Liverpool recover from 3-0 down against AC Milan in the final in Istanbul.

But Allardyce, in his new autobiography 'Big Sam', wrote: "Of course he can say he won the Champions League with Liverpool, which is something I never did. But it was nowt to do with him.

Sam Allardyce says he deserved to be England boss in 2006

"I don't blame Benitez for claiming credit but as managers we know the truth. It's like when you make a substitution in desperation and it comes off. You get all the credit for your tactical brilliance when it's often just luck."

Benitez dismissed this remark, saying: "Do you know who Sam Allardyce is? Do you know how many trophies he has won? Well that's my answer. It is what happens when someone has a book to sell. His opinion does not have a lot of value."

Benitez inherited a squad that includes world-record signing Bale when he took over at Real Madrid in the summer but said he was aware of the Welshman's prodigious talent long before.

"Back in 2006 I went to see Bolton-Southampton," he added. "We transferred a player to Southampton but they wouldn't give us Bale.

"Then when we tried to buy him, we couldn't. I've known for a long time he was a great player."

Benitez now has to deal with Bale on a daily basis and a perceived clash of egos with star player Ronaldo, which he maintains is exaggerated.

He said: "Coaches have to control a group of professionals but not what their agents say. I talk to the players and when there's a conflict, it's solved. There's no problem between Bale and Cristiano.

"Everything is magnified in Madrid. Sometimes it's out of jealousy or to attack. I am surprised."
Benitez oversaw a stunning Champions League victory which saw Liverpool recover from 3-0 down against AC Milan in the final in Istanbul.