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LONDON - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has accused the American owners of Premier League soccer rivals Liverpool of undermining their manager Rafael Benitez, British newspapers reported today.
Tom Hicks and George Gillet have angered fans of the five-times European champions by admitting they had sounded out Germany's 2006 World Cup coach Juergen Klinsmann for Benitez's job.
"What happened was a bad piece of business on Liverpool's part," Ferguson said at the English champions' training ground in Riyadh, where they played a testimonial match for former Saudi Arabia skipper Sami Al-Jaber.
"That can be very upsetting. You should let a manger get on with his job. At big clubs, it's absolutely paramount that the board show their class."
Liverpool are 14 points behind league leaders United and Ferguson said boardroom difficulties did not help.
"Obviously results matter and they also matter to the likes of (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger. But Wenger always had great support from David Dein at Arsenal and I've had great support here, ever since I came here.
"So there is unity there and you should allow a manager to get on with his job."
- REUTERS