Benitez threatened to sue me the last time I crossed him! Warnock reveals motivation ahead of Chelsea clash
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UPDATED:
09:41 GMT, 18 December 2012
Neil Warnock is looking forward to squaring up to Rafa Benitez as the last time they went head to head the Spaniard threatened to take him to court.
Warnock was Sheffield United manager in 2007 when he admitted he would 'never forgive' Benitez for picking what he deemed a weakened team in Liverpool's final away game of the season against Fulham.
The Blades needed Benitez's Reds to get a result against Fulham, who were in the relegation zone, but the Londoners won the game 1-0, a result which saw them survive at the expense of United.
Head to head: Rafa Benitez and Neil Warnock (right) have a history
Warnock's criticism of Benitez led to the Spaniard's legal team sending an email warning of possible legal action were he to be mentioned again.
Warnock, preparing his Leeds side to take on Benitez and Chelsea in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night, said: 'The last time I heard from Rafa he was threatening to sue me in an email if I mentioned it again.
'Enough water's passed under the bridge. I don't want to give you any more ammunition than you've already got.
'It's
one of those things that disappoints you in life and you have to get on
with it really, but you get disappointments in every walk of life and
I've made my feelings clear on how my feelings have been over the last
few years and nothing will change that.
Back on track Chelsea travel to Elland Road after a 1-0 loss to Corinthians
'I
think it (the email) had his name on, I think it was his solicitor on
who was threatening legal action and I've got it in a scrapbook at home.
'I've no idea (if they will shake hands), I haven't thought about it yet, I was too worried about Ipswich (last Saturday).'
Warnock also believes there is no loyalty to managers in football, but has no regrets about turning down the Chelsea job in the early nineties to remain at Notts County for that very reason.
Ken Bates – Warnock's current chairman at Leeds – offered Warnock the job in 1991, but after guiding Notts County to the top flight following successive promotions, he decided to stay put. Warnock was sacked two years later.
'I don't have any regrets really because your life shapes around decisions really and I was a northern lad and I thought going beyond Watford was the end of the world in those days,' he said.
'I went down twice, once to the ground and once to Ken's farm in Beaconsfield and I was stuck on the motorway for five hours on both occasions and it didn't seem to be me really, so there are a lot of issues.
Game on: Warnock hasn't always seen eye to eye with Benitez but he thinks the Spaniard was right to take the Chelsea job
'I wanted to stay loyal to a group of players who had been fantastic for me.
'If it was a different way round, why do managers say loyal, you get the sack anyway, why not go and take the opportunity Good luck to you. I've nothing about this loyalty thing now. My advice to young managers is if you get the chance, go.
'You get kicked in the teeth if you stay so you can't win either way.'
After going through nine managers since Roman Abramovich bought the club from Bates in 2003, the Blues are seemingly the perfect example to illustrate Warnock's point.
Benitez has been hired as manager on
an interim basis until the end of the season, but with the Spaniard
being out of work since he left Inter in 2010 Warnock feels he was right
to accept the role.
'I don't blame Benitez for taking the job,' Warnock added before saying tongue-in-cheek.
'He'd been out of work for quite some time, if it were me I would be there like a shot.
'I
wish I could have had Chelsea now, yes, I should have got it this time!
After Roberto left, he hasn't had an Englishman in the job, has he'
