Rafa Benitez told Fabio Capello that Liverpool came before England, and that any decisions taken over Steven Gerrard's medical treatment were exclusively Liverpool's.
Capello was upset to learn that Gerrard had been sent for a groin operation, ruling him out of the start of England's World Cup qualifying campaign.
Capello’s midfield crisis deepened when Manchester United’s Owen Hargreaves failed to start last night’s Uefa Super Cup match against Zenit St Petersburg.
Hargreaves suffered a reaction to his long-standing knee injury and was understood to be very down over the return of his tendinitis.
"He trained in the stadium last night,’’ said United’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, of Hargreaves.
"There is no more we could do. We gave him the right platform, the right training program and the right tempo, so that’s a disappointment.
"He said he felt his knee. He said he wasn’t fit enough to play, so there’s nothing we can do about it. If a player declares himself unfit you have to accept that.’’
England's coach names his squad for the ties against Andorra and Croatia and had been hoping to use Hargreaves and particularly Gerrard.
"He called me and we spoke about Steve's operation and how long it would be,'' Benitez said.
"Everything was really positive. If we'd delayed it, then he might have been out for even longer. Fabio Capello understands this.
"Our doctor is in contact with doctors of the national team, but the decision is our decision. Steven couldn't play and was struggling with the problem he had and was always in pain.''
An indication of the problems England currently endure was highlighted by the Portsmouth chief executive, Peter Storrie.
"If you talk to our foreign players, they also find it strange that they get so much time and space when they play England,'' said Storrie, who has players such as Croatia's Niko Kranjcar at Portsmouth.
"We allow them to knock the ball about, especially at Wembley.''
Storrie added that his manager, Harry Redknapp, was "very happy'' at the club despite rumours linking him with West Ham.
"I'd say I was 99.9 per cent certain he's not going anywhere,'' Storrie added.”You could argue that Portsmouth is a better place to be than West Ham.''
Capello was upset to learn that Gerrard had been sent for a groin operation, ruling him out of the start of England's World Cup qualifying campaign.
Capello’s midfield crisis deepened when Manchester United’s Owen Hargreaves failed to start last night’s Uefa Super Cup match against Zenit St Petersburg.
Hargreaves suffered a reaction to his long-standing knee injury and was understood to be very down over the return of his tendinitis.
"He trained in the stadium last night,’’ said United’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, of Hargreaves.
"There is no more we could do. We gave him the right platform, the right training program and the right tempo, so that’s a disappointment.
"He said he felt his knee. He said he wasn’t fit enough to play, so there’s nothing we can do about it. If a player declares himself unfit you have to accept that.’’
England's coach names his squad for the ties against Andorra and Croatia and had been hoping to use Hargreaves and particularly Gerrard.
"He called me and we spoke about Steve's operation and how long it would be,'' Benitez said.
"Everything was really positive. If we'd delayed it, then he might have been out for even longer. Fabio Capello understands this.
"Our doctor is in contact with doctors of the national team, but the decision is our decision. Steven couldn't play and was struggling with the problem he had and was always in pain.''
An indication of the problems England currently endure was highlighted by the Portsmouth chief executive, Peter Storrie.
"If you talk to our foreign players, they also find it strange that they get so much time and space when they play England,'' said Storrie, who has players such as Croatia's Niko Kranjcar at Portsmouth.
"We allow them to knock the ball about, especially at Wembley.''
Storrie added that his manager, Harry Redknapp, was "very happy'' at the club despite rumours linking him with West Ham.
"I'd say I was 99.9 per cent certain he's not going anywhere,'' Storrie added.”You could argue that Portsmouth is a better place to be than West Ham.''
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