Liverpool Fail To Put Benitez’s Words Into Practise

Football is after all a results business.

Teams are judged at the end of every season how they have done bearing on the results they achieved that year.

However while most side’s and managers alike understand this simple logic, the theory is largely lost upon Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

The former Valencia Manager, while proving his Liverpool side are a match for Manchester United in the title race has become rather outspoken in the second-half of this season.

This mind-game culture that has largely been introduced by Sir Alex Ferguson, was used to unsettle opponents with little spiteful comments, while the team on the pitch put his words into practise with thrilling performances.

Unfortunately, Benitez has yet to grasp that either, as his Liverpool side fail to live up to their manager’s words as they were humbled by Chelsea 3-1 on Wednesday evening, to all but end their interest in the Champions League.

Benitez said in a pre-match press conference that the Manchester United manager was scared of his Liverpool side, and that he would be supporting them in the tie, as he knew they were a bigger threat.

Well it’s unlikely Ferguson would have been quivering in his boots on Wednesday evening, as the Spaniard’s side were overcome by a solid Chelsea side, keen on killing the tie in the first leg.

The same could be said for Benitez the previous evening however as United drew 2-2 with a very forward thinking FC Porto.

The difference between the two however?

Benitez put unnecessary pressure on his side by what he said on Tuesday, meaning his side had to produce to back up their managers comments, yet they couldn’t quiet pull through.

The manager has an uncanny knack of triggering poor Liverpool performances with his unholy words, as he proved earlier in the year as his side produced a drab performance in a 0-0 draw with Stoke City.

He accused Ferguson, maybe correctly so that he went unpunished for verbally lambasting referees during matches, as well accusing United of being nervous at the top of the league.

These words, despite some of them being true pilled further pressure on his side to perform, and while his team drew with relegation threatened Stoke, United comfortably beat Chelsea 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Now Ferguson as I mentioned before has always delved into mind games with other league managers, most famously with Arsene Wenger, but while the duo would answer each other back with fierce words and equally stunning performances by the respective sides, Benitez can’t bring boast the same resources.

He may never be everyone’s favourite but Ferguson has consistently backed up his controversial words up with titles season after season, and while it’s left to be seen whether Benitez can do the same this season, having already contributed to his side’s exit from Europe he might think twice before his next media eruption.

His side have twice let him down when he’s mouthed off to the media, and maybe this latest outburst and disappointing defeat will make Benitez learn when to keep his mouth closed.