Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill insists he will have no problem shaking hands with Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez - despite the stormy nature of the Reds’ ultimately failed attempt to land midfielder Gareth Barry.
The two clubs will meet at Villa Park in the Premier League, with Barry set to line up for the home side, after Liverpool failed to match O’Neill’s £18million valuation of the 27-year-old.
Benitez and O’Neill clashed verbally on more than one occasion during the early stages of the saga but the latter is not claiming any sort of victory over Barry remaining at Villa Park.
O’Neill said: “What is my relationship with Benitez? I don’t think in the scheme of things that is wildly important.
“He has got his own things to concern himself with. He has got his own team and I’ve got my side here.
“I’m not every single day phoning up managers to ask how they are nor do I expect them to call me. I don’t get general chats with managers.
“Will I shake hands with Benitez? I am sure that will not be a problem.”
O’Neill, who signed Newcastle winger James Milner for a reported £10million yesterday, expected Barry to complete his move to Anfield three weeks.
The Villa boss claimed: “I haven’t won. I don’t feel that at all. I swear to you.
“I am so relieved he is still here when I was not expecting him to be here. But this is not a triumphalist shout, far from it.
“Who can say what will happen four or five months down the line or in the season ahead?
“For the time being I am so pleased Gareth is with us. I didn’t win. I didn’t win anything, because three weeks ago I would have expected Gareth to have gone.
“I was expecting Liverpool to come in and complete the deal. I am really relieved it didn’t materialise.”
Benitez knows the TV cameras will watch his every move on the touchline at Villa Park but he insists he will have no problem shaking the hand of the Villa boss.
He said: “I do not know what response I will get on Sunday from the Villa fans but I will be only concentrating on what goes on out on the pitch.
“I do not want to say too much, I do not want to analyse too much what has gone on before, because we cannot change things now.
“I am now only concerned with how to beat Villa and how to control Barry on the pitch.
“Do I have a good relationship with Martin O’Neill? I don’t think so. But, of course, I will shake his hand. I am a calm man and I do not have any problems with him about that.”
He added: “I had a good relationship with Martin O’Neill before this summer. I was surprised at what has been said but I insist I have not spoken to him since April.
“I do not believe there will be any problem shaking hands, we can do it.
“We know that Barry is a good player, very good for them. We will try to contain him on the pitch.”
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