Benitez dismisses Jose claims
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Rafa Benitez has rubbished Jose Mourinho's claims that Liverpool will try to get Chelsea players suspended for the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg.
The Chelsea boss had suggested The Reds would try and wind players like Didier Drogba up so they picked up a caution which would rule them out of the return leg on Merseyside.
Liverpool accused Eidur Gudjohnsen of diving to get Xabi Alonso booked in the 2005 semi-final which ruled the midfielder out of the Anfield leg.
"Maybe that is what Jose did to Alonso," said the Liverpool boss.
"But if that was a message to the referee (Markus Merk) then I can say that if it is a yellow card, that is what it should be. If it is red, then also that is what it should be.
"I have confidence in Markus Merk, he is a very good referee and I am happy with the referees at this level."
Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips admitted with Drogba, Joe Cole, Petr Cech and Lassana Diarra all on two bookings they would have to keep their cool in the heat of battle.
"We have to be very careful because we don't want any players missing the second leg," admitted the Chelsea winger.
"It is not going to be easy but we are professionals and have to learn to adapt. We look out for each other all the time anyway.
"It will be very difficult both mentally and physically because all the games we have played have been very important ones.
"We have had to be mentally strong through them all. This game will be hard for us in a lot of ways."