Ef cfe^\i NXi$i`e^ n`k_ IX]X

NEIL WARNOCK says his bitter feud with Rafa Benitez is now “water under the bridge”.

That wouldn’t have been the case back in 2007 when Sheffield United boss Warnock raged against Benitez’s selection for Liverpool’s trip to relegation-threatened Fulham.

The Cottagers beat what Warnock claimed was “a reserve team” 1-0 and went on to escape the drop while Sheffield United were relegated.

Warnock said at the time: “When you are a foreign manager like Rafa Benitez, you probably don’t give two hoots about what Sheffield United think.”

Four years later, when he took QPR to Liverpool, he poured more fuel on the fire as he reflected on the Blades’ relegation.

“I don’t hold a grudge against Liverpool,

Liverpool is a fabulous club, but I was disappointed in Benitez –

I’ll never forgive him,” he said.

The

Spaniard contemplated taking legal action against

Warnock (right) and in 2008 he said he knew Warnock, “was bad as a manager and prehistoric, but we didn’t know he was a person like this.”

But all that will be forgotten when the two men meet on the touchline for Cardiff’s first home game on their return to the top flight today.

“It’s all water under the bridge now, life’s too short,” said Warnock. “I’ve got to enjoy this now.

“Everything has been said about that and we’ve met a few times since then.

“Funnily enough, I was talking to Craig Bellamy at the academy this morning.

“He played in that game and he was telling me how they had three days off before and the other lads weren’t bothered either.

“But you’ve only got to look at what the fans and pundits are saying about Newcastle. The one person Newcastle United can’t afford to lose is Rafa.

“They can get away with losing any player, but his commitment to Newcastle has been fantastic.”