Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has told predecessor Gerard Houllier to stop taking credit for their Champions League success in 2005.
Benitez replaced Houllier at Anfield in 2004 and, in his first season in charge, the Spaniard led the Reds to a remarkable run through the Champions League that culminated in a staggering come-from-behind win over AC Milan in the final.
Houllier, now with Aston Villa, claimed earlier this year that he had played a role because “apart from two players, they had been signed or developed under me”.
But Benitez insists it was his different approach that ultimately led the team to European glory that season.
He told Sky Sports: “The last two years of Houllier were not the best. I was in charge because they decided to change, so that is one crucial point for me too.
“But the way we arrived at the final, we had a lot of good games and there were a lot of top sides that we beat.
“Key players for us, Alonso and Luis Garcia, were not in the squad (under Houllier) and also the approach of the game changed.
“At Valencia, I tried to play higher and press higher, so you can see the tactics were different, the commitment was different and the passion of the players was different. It was a different team.”