“Having relooked at them this week, I think I’m right and I think everyone will see why I’m complaining.
“That was the feeling by the gestures. It was an open arms and a crossover of arms as if that was it.
“The game is hard enough as it is without a fellow manager's undermining gesture.”
Does the game of association football in England know a greater whinge-bag than Sam Allardyce? I think not.
Rafael Benitez is not a man easily prone to celebration. In successive victories over Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa, in thirteen goals, barely did a smirk break his beard.
Finally, finally he lets down his guard to hail a wonderful header by Fernando Torres and 'Big Sam' comes out crying about a lack of respect.
Did it ever cross Allardyce's mind that Benitez' 'crossing of arms' gesture signified not that there was no longer any contest, but that he had the best striker in the land?
Certainly that was the impression I got when I saw the match, and not for one second did it seem that Benitez thought 'game over.' He was hailing Torres. Not some perceived victory.
If any manager knows the importance of 90 minutes, it's Benitez. He has overseen too many late fightbacks, both for and against his teams, to ever assume victory when 2-0 up with more than half the game remaining.
Of course, Sir Alex Ferguson has accused the Spaniard of being arrogant and showing contempt to Blackburn, of all sorts of nasty things that get flung around when there's a title to be decided.
Ferguson's goal is artful at least, trying to distract from the fact that the Merseysiders may just keep United off their perch, but Allardyce, 'Big Sam,' has shown that he has little better to do than moan and crib about a fellow manager celebrating a goal.
Well, it's not like he's got a relegation to stave off, is it?