Sir Alex Ferguson cannot understand why Rafael Benitez is under pressure at Liverpool. The Spaniard seemed close to getting the sack when a dispute erupted with George Gillett and Tom Hicks, Liverpool's co-owners, over moves to sign new players during the January transfer window.

Benitez appeared to be complaining that the pair were not well enough versed in the vagaries of the European transfer system to understand what damage a delay in recruitment could do to Liverpool.

For their part, Gillett and Hicks indicated Benitez should concentrate on improving results with the players he had at a time of the season when Liverpool were struggling in the Premier League and their Champions League campaign. Since then, Benitez's team have stabilised the situation, advancing to the last 16 of Europe with a four-goal thrashing of Marseille on Tuesday.

"I can never understand where criticism comes from," Ferguson said. "Rafa has a great record but all of a sudden you read about a supposed dispute between Rafael Benitez and his directors.

"Other people take more of an interest in Liverpool than me but there is obviously some undercurrent of a dispute running somewhere along the line, which is strange considering his record.

"Rafa won the European Cup after being 3-0 down to AC Milan, which is an amazing feat," Ferguson said. "And there was no disgrace in losing to AC Milan last season.

"I don't know where criticism starts or how it starts in our game. But with Rafa's record, it will be disappointing for him."