Benayoun's patience runs low
Shaul Adar - Wednesday August 22, 2007
Yossi Benayoun is already concerned about his lack of opportunities at Liverpool and "will think about moving to a medium-sized team" if the situation does not improve, according to his agent.
Liverpool have played only three competitive games this season but the Israel international is the second Liverpool player - after Peter Crouch - to complain about not being involved enough in Rafael Benítez's plans. Benayoun was left out of the squad for the Premier League games against Aston Villa and Chelsea but started and played 59 minutes in the Champions League qualifier against Toulouse last week.
"If Yossi won't be involved enough we will think of moving to a medium-sized team," Benayoun's agent, Ronen Katzav, said in a radio interview in Israel. "When we first met with Rafa Benítez, he asked for a lot of patience since there is a huge squad at Liverpool.
"We don't analyse each match. Yossi has patience and motivation and he will get his chance. When you are taking a decision to move to Liverpool, you are prepared for all possibilities and Yossi decided to follow his heart. The target was to try and integrate in the team and I'm sure he will play a lot. Naturally, Yossi wants to be in the squad and knows he has a lot of work to do but if he won't play for a long period we will think again."
The Israeli media has been stunned by Benayoun's omission from the Liverpool squads but Benítez has asked his players to be patient. "It's the same with Jermaine Pennant, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Sebastián Leto and Lucas Leiva," he said last week. "I can only use 11 [players] - and I cannot have more than 18 players in a squad for a European match unfortunately.
"Every player knows they have team-mates to consider. They're professionals and they need to be ready for each game. I'll always have the same answer."
Shaul Adar - Wednesday August 22, 2007
Yossi Benayoun is already concerned about his lack of opportunities at Liverpool and "will think about moving to a medium-sized team" if the situation does not improve, according to his agent.
Liverpool have played only three competitive games this season but the Israel international is the second Liverpool player - after Peter Crouch - to complain about not being involved enough in Rafael Benítez's plans. Benayoun was left out of the squad for the Premier League games against Aston Villa and Chelsea but started and played 59 minutes in the Champions League qualifier against Toulouse last week.
"If Yossi won't be involved enough we will think of moving to a medium-sized team," Benayoun's agent, Ronen Katzav, said in a radio interview in Israel. "When we first met with Rafa Benítez, he asked for a lot of patience since there is a huge squad at Liverpool.
"We don't analyse each match. Yossi has patience and motivation and he will get his chance. When you are taking a decision to move to Liverpool, you are prepared for all possibilities and Yossi decided to follow his heart. The target was to try and integrate in the team and I'm sure he will play a lot. Naturally, Yossi wants to be in the squad and knows he has a lot of work to do but if he won't play for a long period we will think again."
The Israeli media has been stunned by Benayoun's omission from the Liverpool squads but Benítez has asked his players to be patient. "It's the same with Jermaine Pennant, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Sebastián Leto and Lucas Leiva," he said last week. "I can only use 11 [players] - and I cannot have more than 18 players in a squad for a European match unfortunately.
"Every player knows they have team-mates to consider. They're professionals and they need to be ready for each game. I'll always have the same answer."
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