Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has defended his management style.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek labelled his coaching style 'unfair', and revealed how he came close to punching the 56-year-old when he was refused a move from Anfield in 2006.

But Benitez says: "As a manager you have to make decisions. I don't see any Liverpool fan wanting you to allow your second-choice keeper to leave on the last day of the transfer window. You have to do what you have to do as a manager, and he has to understand your responsibilities.

"People say I am cold. To be fair I am professional. I wouldn't say I was cold with players, it depends which players you're talking about. You have 25 players in a squad, and you can't play them all - they have to realise I have to make decisions.

"Because of that you have players who are closer to you, others who are not so close, and that's where relationships are built. It's important that I don't tell lies."