Reds gaffer brings on the droll
For years, Alex Ferguson has moved hell and high water to make sure his players don’t get sent out around the globe for menial friendlies. Kettleheaded Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, however, has chosen an alternative route for expressing his dismay at meaningless games. That’s right, Rafa done got his sarcasm on:
“I am really, really happy that Mascherano must go to Egypt to play a friendly. Things like that you just cannot understand. There is nothing you can do. The rules are the rules and the players must go.”
Javier Mascherano is being sent off to Egypt just four days before the Pool face Everton, and Rafa will undoubtedly want a full strength team to ensure they don’t end up playing in the UEFA Cup next year. Is it right that country comes before club, or should players be more loyal to the organisations who keep them in sports cars and mock Tudor mansions?
Personally, I’m siding with Raf on this one.
3 responses so far
1 Sam // Mar 18, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Deal with it Rafa as do other top teams. Thats the price you pay for having internationals in your team. When is good time to have friendly then? If its up to the club…never.
2 chas // Mar 18, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I think that he should deal with it too….
The way Fergie does…. errr sorry but all my players are injured this week, but we can spare the tea lady, Neville or Waz Brown…
ahh you want the Tea Lady.. ok :)
3 andi // Mar 18, 2008 at 5:13 pm
What the eck can Argentina get from playing a friendly in egypt?How to play on sand?How to win the african nations?surely its time for the worlds FA’s to get together and say right we ll have fixed windows for friendlies and leagues to be forced to accomodate all fifa recognised tournaments so nobody loses players to tournaments such as african nations,And i know we’ll have the usual argument of “you shouldnt sign players you know are going to miss games” but in any other industry a persons employment being hampered by his nationality would be seen as discrimination and legally contested.