[lfc-news] Benitez defends Carra after Riley outburst - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 4 Jan 2005
Benitez defends Carra after Riley outburst
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ today urged the FA not to take action against Jamie Carragher for his criticism of referee Mike Riley.

Liverpool have been informed the FA are analysing Carragher's comments made following the Reds' controversial defeat to Chelsea last weekend.

But Benitez says he's bemused by the suggestion there was anything wrong in his defender's observation.

And he's 100 per cent behind his player for what he describes as an 'honest' assessment of Riley's performance.

"What is wrong with what he said? In my opinion, everyone has seen the penalty claim. When a player has worked hard for 90 minutes and sees this, he is disappointed," said Benitez.

"Carragher is not only a good professional but a very clever player and I don't think he has said anything wrong.

"All the people who watched television can see it was a penalty. Okay, it was a mistake, but in an important game it's difficult to accept when you see these mistakes, especially for a player who's been running so hard for 90 minutes.

"He's been honest and the question for me is how to resolve the problems, not worry about what's been said later. Then the players won't have to say anything."