Riera: Liverpool a sinking ship
Albert Riera has hit his manager where it really hurts: the truth. The Spanish winger, signed for £8 milliom from Espanyol, has described Liverpool as a sinking ship that manager Rafa Benitez can do nothing about. Liverpool has lost nine times in the Premier League this season and could miss out on a Champions League spot.
Riera, who also played for Manchester City, says that Benitez’ treatment of him is personal and that the winger’s dreams of playing in the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa this summer will die if he does not play.
“When you cease to count in this way it has to be something personal, because it is so. If I’m doing something wrong and you are my boss and count on me, you expect to be told what to do to play. That’s what it hurts,” Riera told Spanish radio station Marca.
“The team is not good and there is no change. It’s frustrating because I can help and he [Benitez] does not use me.
“Torres and Reina encourage me. I’m told that if I play as I know I can I’ll be in the team but a week goes by and another and another and you see that this is not the case. There’s a lack of tact. There shouldn’t be communication problems between Spanish and my English is not so bad.
“I’d be here my whole career, but the players live to play. My goal is to go the World Cup and for that I have to play.”
Riera also slammed Benitez for failing to communicate with his players despite the team’s huge problems this season. Liverpool, who must overcome a first leg deficit to Lille in tonight’s Europa League match, face stiff competition from City, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa for fourth place this season.
“I’ve been here two years and he [Benitez] never manages the situation by talking to players. He thinks he is the boss and everyone else is deaf. The dialogue with the players is practically zero,” he added.
“We don’t play nice football. Effective, yes but not nice. This year has been difficult and nothing has changed. When you see a ship sinking and do not change …”
Rant’s advice to you, Albert, is the same for all rats on a sinking ship. Jump!