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Posts Tagged ‘relationship’

• Former chief executive denies rejecting offer from DIC
• ‘The problem was that they didn’t get on with each other’

The former Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has defended the decision to sell the club to George Gillett and Tom Hicks in 2007.

It has been widely-reported that Hicks and Gillett assumed control of the club despite a rival offer from Dubai International Capital (DIC) but Parry, who along with then chairman and owner David Moores made the decision to sell to the American duo, insists that DIC were not in the running.

“It wasn’t a case of us rejecting Dubai,” Parry told London’s Evening Standard. “They were the preferred bidder but they walked away.”

The reign of Hicks and Gillett, which ended when Fenway Sports Group bought the club last year after a bitter court battle, was punctuated by public arguments between the two owners, between Hicks and Parry and disagreements between then-manager Rafael Benítez and the owners.

The much-heralded new stadium in Stanley Park failed to materialise and the club struggled under the weight of the large amount of debt which was placed on the club by Hicks and Gillett. Parry believes much of the difficulty stemmed from the fractious nature of the relationship between the owners.

“I think one of the fundamental [problems] was that they actually didn’t get on terribly well with each other,” Parry explains.

Parry left the club in 2009 and, despite the often haphazard nature of the Hicks and Gillet era, he feels that for a period of time at least things were going well.

“Don’t forget and certainly until I left – which was 2009 – we were second in the league. The business plan was a net spend of £20m on players. And they’d over delivered on that. They took us pretty close to winning the Premier League in 2008-2009, within four points of Manchester United with a huge points total.

“So it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Then, in 2009, for whatever reason, there didn’t appear to be any net spend at all on the players. By which time they clearly realised that they probably needed to sell completely.”

Parry also stressed that despite what seemed to be a hostile relationship, he remains on good terms with Benítez.

“You don’t get into the business if you want people who are easy,” he said. “You want people who are winners. He’s very demanding and he’s a perfectionist. But I’m still friendly with Rafael.”

LiverpoolTom HicksEvan Fanningguardian.co.uk

• Liverpool winger fancies a move to Russia
• Riera believes Liverpool do not play good football

Albert Riera has indicated that he wants to leave Liverpool after revealing that his relationship with Rafael Benítez has deteriorated to the point where he thinks the manager has something against him.

In an outspoken attack on Benítez, Riera said the manager “turns a deaf ear” to his players and described Liverpool as a “sinking ship”. He also questioned whether his fellow Spaniard was suited to the Real Madrid job because his style of football is not attractive enough.

Riera has played only twice for Liverpool since the end of January, making one start and one substitute’s appearance in the Europa League, and the midfielder is giving serious consideration to asking for a transfer in an effort to earn a place in Spain’s World Cup squad.

“When the coach doesn’t say anything to you and you are in good shape with no physical problems and training well, you have no choice but to think [the fact you are not playing] is personal,” Riera said. “The team’s playing badly and needs changes. If I’m doing something badly and you’re my boss and you trust in me, then you would tell me what I am doing wrong and what I have to do to play. [The fact that Benítez has not said anything] is what most hurts.

“Right now the only market open is the Russian one. I have offers from two clubs and, given my situation, that has made me reflect a lot … My objective is to go to the World Cup and for that to happen I have to play.”

Riera said he was not alone in having communication problems with Benítez. “He thinks he is in charge and he just turns a deaf ear to everyone else,” he told Radio Marca in Spain. “The dialogue with the players is practically non-existent. There is a lack of tact.”

Asked about Benítez’s credentials for Madrid, where Manuel Pellegrini is not expected to be in charge next season, Riera said: “At Madrid they ask you to win and play lovely football. We are effective, sure, but we don’t play brilliant football.”

LiverpoolPremier LeagueRafael BenítezSid Loweguardian.co.uk

Liverpool typically reserve their greatest intensity for matches with Manchester United but they ought to be every bit as animated in the trip to the other Premier League club in that city. Roberto Mancini’s chances of keeping his job surely depend on taking fourth place at the expense of contenders such as the visitors. Despite the reported turbulence in the relationship between the manager and some players City have been consistent at home, although Carlos Tevez’s absence because of personal matters does impair the team. Kevin McCarra

Venue City of Manchester Stadium

Tickets £39-47 (www.mcfc.co.uk)

Last season Manchester City 2 Liverpool 3

Referee P Walton

This season’s matches 16 Y33, R3, 2.25 cards per game

Odds Manchester City 6-4 Liverpool 2-1 Draw 23-10

Manchester City

Subs from Taylor, Zabaleta, Kompany, Onuoha, Boyata, Bellamy, Sylvinho, Ibrahim, Garrido, Santa Cruz

Doubtful Bellamy (knee), Kompany (groin)

Injured Petrov (knee, 20 Mar), M Johnson (knee, May)

Suspended Vieira (first of three)

Unavailable Tevez (compassionate leave)

Form guide DWLWLW

Disciplinary record Y35 R2

Leading scorer Tevez 13

Liverpool

Subs from Cavalieri, Aquilani, Degen, Ngog, Riera, Babel, Darby, Benayoun, Spearing, Ayala, Pacheco, Kelly, El Zhar

Doubtful Benayoun (back), Carragher (abdomen)

Injured Johnson (knee, 28 Feb), Torres (knee, 28 Feb)

Suspended Kyrgiakos (second of three)

Form guide LWWDWD

Disciplinary record Y37 R5

Leading scorer Torres 12

Match pointers

• If Liverpool win they will have twice as many victories (80) as City from their 159 meetings in all competitions

• City have failed to win in their last nine Premier League meetings with Liverpool

• In their last 14 top flight matches, Liverpool have conceded before half-time on one occasion

• Carlos Tevez has scored 15 goals in his last 15 games for City in all competitions after scoring four in his first 15

• Dirk Kuyt has scored four of Liverpool’s last five league goals, with the other being an own goal by Kevin Davies

Manchester CityLiverpoolPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk