Mourinho had spoken out against Rafa's record and Liverpool's inability to challenge for multiple titles before the game, and then attacked the referee over a non-existent penalty after it.

Asked if it was difficult for him to concentrate amid all this, Benitez said: "No, because we know him. I have some friends in Portugal and they also know him."

Asked about the hits below the belt, he said: "When he has a very good team, and some of the best players in the world, he still has to do all this. That is the way he is."

Looking ahead to the second leg, he admitted he would be willing to risk third place in the Premiership in return for a spot in the Champions League final.

That could mean resting a few players against Portsmouth, who are fighting for a Uefa Cup berth..

"I will use my squad for this game and mix it up with some experienced and young players," he revealed.

"We want to win this game and to finish third would be better for us. It's clear it's not easy to turn our focus away from the Chelsea game but we will try to beat Portsmouth.

"If you asked me whether we want to reach a final or finish third then I would say reach a final, but we will go to Portsmouth with the idea of winning the match."

Almost simultaneously, Sir Alex Ferguson has hit out at Mouinho, and asked why he has not been punished yet for riling clubs, referees, players, coaches and even associations.

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