Benitez ratchets up the tension

SOCCER/Chelsea v Liverpool: Rafael Benitez has exacerbated tensions between Liverpool and Chelsea before this afternoon's potentially combustible FA Cup semi-final by suggesting Stamford Bridge's "Special One" is less Jose Mourinho and more Roman Abramovich.

The European and Premiership champions collide at Old Trafford in what will be their 10th meeting in 18 months with relations between the managers and between their teams clearly strained, a legacy of high-profile clashes between Frank Lampard and Xabi Alonso, Michael Essien and Dietmar Hamann, and Jose Reina and Arjen Robben.

The mood is unlikely to improve ahead of today's tie after Benitez insisted Abramovich's money rather than Mourinho's managerial acumen was key to Chelsea's success.

"It is very simple: they have spent more money than any other club on players," said Benitez. "Abramovich has done a fantastic job with this team because, after 50 years without a title, they're about to win the league twice in a row. The manager has done a good job but, for me, the owner is the key. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Jose Mourinho are all important, but they wouldn't have anything like they do without Abramovich. He started the revolution.

"Normally, if you spend big money, you're near the top of the table and competing for trophies. It's the same in Spain with Barcelona and Real Madrid, in Italy with Juventus and Milan. Who is winning the league in these countries? Here, it's Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal - they must be at the top, and we will try to be there next year - but it is always more difficult if you don't have that amount of money. Tottenham Hotspur, for example, have had a really good season because they haven't had the money that maybe Arsenal, United or Chelsea have had."

Benitez conceded his relationship with Mourinho would be healthier had Chelsea not confronted his side so often these last two seasons.

"My relationship with Mourinho is normal," he added. "It was better before we had to play so many times against each other, but we are now a top side who can win games, and it's natural that you would have more confrontation with another manager if the teams are competing for trophies."

The strain in relations was plain in Mourinho's words and body language yesterday, though the Chelsea manager refused to comment on suggestions the back-to-back titles his side will soon secure are down to Abramovich. "It's his opinion. What do you want me to tell?" he said. Was he disappointed at such remarks? "It's up to him."

Mourinho said he had "respect" for Benitez but studiously avoided lavishing praise on him. "You have to ask people at Liverpool if they are happy. What do you want me to tell? He is a good manager. He has a good record. He won some competitions," he said coldly, while emphasising Chelsea's primacy.

He described February's 2-0 win over Liverpool as "an easy game" and noted their relative Premiership successes. "When you are in a big club you are first or you are nothing, because nothing else matters," he said.

"If you are champions you succeed. If you are not champions you don't succeed." Mourinho played down any suggestion recent confrontations between players had created a particular rivalry between the clubs, saying February's match could not be regarded as explosive despite the incident involving Reina and Robben that led to the Liverpool goalkeeper's red card. "In many other countries the game wouldn't be explosive," he said. "It would be just a game where Chelsea played much better."

Guardian Service