Sir Alex Ferguson has renewed his war of words with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
Speaking ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Everton, Ferguson was critical of the way in which Benitez had belittled the Toffees.
Benitez previously described nine-time League winners Everton as a “small club” and Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has complained about Benitez’s behaviour during his side’s 4-0 defeat at Anfield last week.
“Everton are a big club, not a small one which Benitez arrogantly said,” said the United boss.
Ferguson also spoke out about the way Benitez appeared to dismiss Blackburn once Liverpool scored their second goal in their 4-0 win on Saturday.
“Arrogance is one thing. You cannot forgive contempt, which is what he showed Sam Allardyce last weekend,” Ferguson added.
“When Liverpool scored their second goal he signalled as if the game was finished. I do not think Sam deserved that.
“Sam has worked so hard for the LMA (League Managers’ Association) and he’s had a weakened team. I just thought it showed contempt.
“In my experience no Liverpool manager has ever done that. It was beyond the pale.”
Allardyce, preparing his team for a visit to Stoke this weekend, expressed his annoyance with Benitez, describing his actions as “unfortunate gestures after Liverpool’s second goal”.
The Blackburn boss saw the incident as “pretty dismissive to me and Blackburn – disrespectful and quite humiliating”.
Allardyce added: “The game is hard enough without a fellow manager making an undermining gesture.”
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