Monday, February 6th, 2012
There is growing unrest and trouble at Anfield as Albert Riera has now provided Rafael Benitez with more problems after launching a scathing verbal attack on Liverpool. In words that provided revealing dressing room sentiment about the situation at Anfield, Riera labelled Liverpool a “sinking ship” after a poor season both in the English Premier League and in Europe. While the criticism might appear to be an open attempt to force a move to Russia where he might be able to get first team football in order to improve his chances of joining Spain for the World Cup, some of them add up to earlier statements from other star players like Fernando Torres (“Benitez never praises me”) and Steven Gerrard that show the lack of a human touch from the control freak that is Benitez.
Ironically, Riera was signed by Benitez for Liverpool from Espanyol in an £8 million deal in September 2008 and started his Anfield career promisingly. While the winger is not of the flashy or exuberant kind, he was efficient and could be said to fit into Benitez’s favoured systems. Liverpool fans were not overly impressed with the Spaniard although he was in good form increasingly and despite injuries in Liverpool’s second place run last season, also provided evidence of his abilities down the wings with his good touch and clever link up play with Torres and Gerrard. In truth, Riera was a much better player than Babel although not quite as talented.
It might appear that Riera has become a victim of the poor form of both Liverpool as a whole and individually. Rafa Benitez has gone back to basics this season in a bid to salvage something such as the fourth Champions League spot. That meant not using a risky system that might include playing a more expansive game and narrowing the team while packing the midfield. To not lose first and then to get wins later has been the motto in recent spells when Liverpool managed to put a run together. Benitez has also opted to stick to his trusted workhorses like Kuyt to roam the wings even though they might not be natural in those positions like Riera.
Revealing similar sentiments of others players who have deemed Benitez unapproachable:
“He thinks he is in charge and he just turns a deaf ear to everyone else,” Riera told Radio Marca. “The dialogue with the players is practically non-existent. There is a lack of tact.
“When the coach doesn’t say anything to you and you are in good shape with no physical problems and training well, you have no choice but to think [the fact you are not playing] is personal.
“The team’s playing badly and needs changes. If I’m doing something badly and you’re my boss and you trust in me, then you would tell me what I am doing wrong and what I have to do to play. [The fact that Benitez has not said anything] is what most hurts.”
If Benitez is hoping to stay beyond the end of this season and not be replaced by Alex McLeish, he would certainly have to start working on the PR side of his game. And reflecting on what many Liverpool fans have also stated, Riera said that Benitez would never be a choice for Real Madrid despite what rumours have claimed because “At Madrid they ask you to win and play lovely football. We [Liverpool] are effective, sure, but we don’t play brilliant football.”
Tags: Albert Riera, English Premier League, Liverpool, Rafael Benitez, Real Madrid