Rafa plays down handshake rift

14 augustus 2006, 12:19

Koen Freriks

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez downplayed questions of a rift with his Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho and is focused on securing more silverware for the Reds in the 2006-07 campaign.

The pair did not shake hands following Sunday`s Community Shield match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, which Liverpool won 2-1, and nor did they following last season's FA Cup semi-final.

This time Liverpool manager Benitez said: "He decided not to shake hands in the last game and this time he was behind me and he did not say anything. For me it is not a problem. After the FA Cup he decided not to shake hands."