Bad timing: Benitez attacked Inter president
Massimo Moratti after the cup win
Rafa Benitez is expected to be sacked as Inter Milan
boss in the next 48 hours after launching an astonishing attack on
club owner Massimo Moratti.
The former Liverpool manager hit out moments after Inter’s 3-0
Club World Cup win over Africa’s TP Mazembe, as he used the
post-match press conference to pour out months of pent-up
frustration.
There were shades of his bitter war of words with ex-Liverpool
co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, towards the end of his time
at Anfield, as he accused Moratti of showing favouritism to
predecessor Jose Mourinho and fumed: 'Last year, Moratti spent 80
million euros on five players, but this year he has spent nothing
for me.
On top of the world: Inter Milan celebrate winning
the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi
'I don’t know why that has happened, but it has left me
100 per cent disappointed. I deserve more respect.
'In August, the club promised me three players, but none have
arrived. I have had to shoulder all the blows and
responsibilities.
'It seems to me there are three options now for the club. One,
100 per cent support for the coach and four or five new players to
build a stronger team. Two, carry on like this, without a project
or any planning and go ahead with one person to blame.
'Three, speak to my agent and reach an agreement. Simple.'
Benitez’s blunt ultimatum for Moratti to back him or sack him
looked like backfiring, as Inter’s long-serving president made it
clear he took a dim view of the outburst.
He vowed to savour Inter’s triumph but made it clear he was in
the mood to end Benitez’s San Siro reign, after barely six months,
once they returned to Milan.
Asked if Benitez had ruined the Inter party, Moratti said: 'No,
for the moment, no. His comments are not suitable for the
situation, but, for now, this Inter fan is a happy man.
'I am not going to talk about Benitez or his future for the
moment.
'But clearly, this is not the moment to ask for reinforcements,
and it is not something we will decide now.’
Benitez has kept his home on Merseyside and made no secret of
his wish to return to Liverpool for a second spell in charge.
Current boss Roy Hodgson is under pressure, after a poor start,
but new owner John Henry would be wary of taking on a coach with a
track record for picking fights behind the scenes.
If Benitez is sacked, the FA will be bracing themselves for an
approach for Fabio Capello from Inter.
