Sam Allardyce has launched a
scathing attack on Rafa Benitez in the wake of Blackburn's 4-0
defeat by Liverpool at Anfield last Saturday.
Allardyce has accused the Spaniard of being 'disrespectful' and
'humiliating' over gestures he made on the touchline after Fernando
Torres had headed the home side into a two-goal lead before the
interval.
Television replays showed Benitez shrugged his shoulders and
then crossed his hands, which Allardyce has taken to mean that the
Reds boss felt the game was already over, even though there was
almost an hour still to play.
Relegation-threatened Rovers, who were second best throughout
the match, were missing several players through injury and employed
centre-back Chris Samba in a lone striking role.
Allardyce claims he attempted to speak to Benitez about his
actions after the game but could not make contact with the Spaniard
and has been left fuming by the incident.
He told Sky Sports News: "It's not out
of our system for two reasons. One is the disappointment at the way
the team performed. I know we had a lot of injuries on the day, but
I still felt that we should have gone there and done better than we
did.
"And two, is the unfortunate gestures from Rafa Benitez after
the second goal. I wanted to clarify his gestures. I think you'll
see them as pretty dismissive to me and to Blackburn Rovers' team
as a whole.
"I think they are disrespectful and quite humiliating.
"I waited to have a word with Rafa Benitez in his room after the
game but as usual, and unfortunately, he didn't turn up.
"I was hugely disappointed by those gestures and having
re-looked at them this week I think I'm right and I think everyone
will see why I'm complaining."
When asked if he felt Benitez was writing his side off,
Allardyce replied: "That was the feeling by the gestures. It was an
open arms and a cross-over of arms as if that was it.
"The game is hard enough as it is without a fellow manager
trying to do, what seemed to be, an undermining gesture."
