Finnan defends Rafa

Last updated : 12 October 2007 By Al Campbell
The Liverpool boss has come in for a lot of undeserved criticism from the likes of tefal-headed Andy Gray and Sky werewolf Richard Keyes this season but Finnan was quick to leap to Rafa's defence.

"You only have to look at the manager's CV. Judge him by the trophies he has won, and they show he is a top manager. He knows what he's doing," said the Republic of Ireland international.

"It [rotation] is obviously a subject that is raised a lot, and questions are asked, but it freshens up the squad, keeps players on their toes.

"If a player is unhappy because he is not playing, that's only natural because you want to play in a lot of games.

"But with so many games at club level, and with internationals, it could be over 60 games per season.

"The manager calls the shots. You have to get used to it, and at a club like Liverpool, you are going to have to get used to it.

"So it's only right to freshen things up, and I'm sure everyone is behind the manager."