Fergie blasts Hicks and Gillett

Sir Alex Ferguson has blasted the American owners of Liverpool, Hicks and Gillett, for their treatment of Rafa Benitez and their lack of support for the manager.

"At big clubs, it's absolutely paramount that the board show their class," he said.

"Arsene Wenger has had great support at Arsenal and I've had great support, too, ever since I came here. So there's a certain type of unity there.

"What happened with [Klinsmann] was a bad piece of business on Liverpool's part, there's no doubt about that.

"That sort of thing can be very upsetting for a manager. You should allow a manager to get on with his job."