Benitez: Money drives United success

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes Manchester United’s wealth is the reason for their dominance in the English Premier League.

When asked if United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s personality was critical for the English giants’ success, Benitez told Radio Merseyside: “No, I think it’s the money they were spending.”

“If you analyse the transfer record and the history … Rooney, or Ferdinand, for example … 30 million pounds for a young player or a centre-back.”

“Every year they (United) are very well-off. It’s not just because of the interviews or the press conferences; it’s because they had money.”

Ferguson and Benitez had a fierce rivalry while the latter was still coaching in the English Premier League.

Liverpool were top of the league when Spaniard Benitez publicly replied to allegations of mind games by holding a press conference and presenting a list of ‘facts’ suggesting the United boss was influencing referees.

Liverpool went on to concede the title to United, with many openly blaming Benitez’s outburst as shifting the balance of power between the clubs.

Benitez admitted that press speculation of mind games between the two managers bothered him, but remained steadfast in denying that Ferguson’s charades had any effect on him.

“To be fair, I didn’t like it when the press was talking about mind games because I was just focused on my team, and the things I had to do for the team,” Benitez said.

“If you say something in a press conference I can guarantee you that it has no impact on another manager. It can happen perhaps one in one hundred times, but the press likes to talk about mind games, but what they don’t realise is that you cannot win mind games if you have a bad team.”

“You can be the best in the press conference, but after, if you have a bad team you will lose. It’s easy to talk about mind games when he (Ferguson) has a good team and he has won, and that was the case.”