Soccer Shorts

A round-up of today's other soccer stories in brief...

Parry and Benitez to hold talks

RAFAEL BENITEZ will decide on his Liverpool future once the Champions League campaign is over as club chief executive Rick Parry signalled he wants to clear the air with the manager.

Benitez has expressed his shock after learning that Parry was present when American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett met Jurgen Klinsmann in November.

The Spaniard is as close as he has ever been to quitting Liverpool but he is adamant he wants to target a second European Cup triumph before making any decisions.

The chief executive is ready to meet the manager and explain that he only attended the infamous meeting with Klinsmann under instruction from the Americans.

Parry said: "I am more than happy to sit down and talk to Rafa about this."

Those close to the chief executive say he only attended the meeting in New York after being told to do so by Hicks and Gillett.

FA warning for Moyes as to future conduct

EVERTON BOSS David Moyes was warned by the Football Association over his future conduct at a London hearing yesterday following remarks made after the Merseyside derby with Liverpool last October that ended with the Toffees reduced to nine men.

Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were sent off and Everton also claimed they should have had a late penalty for a foul on Joleon Lescott by Jamie Carragher.

Moyes was heavily critical of referee Mark Clattenburg and also suggested Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard was implicated in the red card for Hibbert, saying: "The referee pulled out a yellow card and then the Liverpool captain has a word with him and it becomes red."

Moyes made comments in the after-match media conference, and then again in the build-up to the next match against Larissa in the UEFA Cup the following week.

Moyes was found guilty of improper conduct in relation to comments made at a press conference in October last year.

Cruyff backs Barcelona to succeed

BARCELONA LEGEND Johan Cruyff believes his former side can pull Manchester United apart by keeping possession when the teams meet in the Champions League semi-final.

Cruyff, who now acts as an official adviser to club president Joan Laporta, denies there is any reason to be pessimistic. The Dutchman believes he knows the way to beat the English champions.

He told El Periodicoyesterday: "They run a lot. Their style of football, and that of all the English teams, gives the false sensation that they run more than anyone.

"That's because despite having a majority of foreigners in their squads they maintain the philosophy of long-ball football and sprinting 60 yards. Despite recognising their effort, you can disarm an English side that presses and looks for the long ball by keeping possession and moving the ball around quickly."

McGeady best young player

RANGERS defender Carlos Cuellar has been rewarded for a magnificent debut campaign in Scotland by landing the Scottish Premier League's Player of the Season award.

His club boss, Walter Smith, was also honoured, receiving manager of the year honour at the awards ceremony last night.

Celtic's Aiden McGeady was named young player of the year, ensuring it would not be a Rangers clean sweep of the top awards.