Babel looks to be selected for the olympics after his recovery ahead of schedule:
Rafa Benitez rage over Ryan Babel Olympics call
Jul 9 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ today bemoaned the likely loss of Ryan Babel for the start of the new season - even though the winger has now recovered from an ankle injury picked up on international duty.
Babel was due to return to training at Melwood today having missed Euro 2008 through a ligament tear suffered during the build up to the tournament.
But having carefully managed his recuperation and got him back to fitness ahead of schedule, Liverpool face the prospect of losing Babel for the opening games of the new season as Holland intend to pick the 21-year-old for their Olympic Games squad.
If selected, Babel will join team mates Lucas, Javier Mascherano and possibly Emiliano Insua at the Games in Beijing.
Though delighted to have Babel back in action ahead of schedule, the Reds boss is angry that Holland are set to deprive him of the ex-Ajax man’s services when he feels he would be better served playing for Liverpool.
Benitez said: “Obviously, we are really pleased that Ryan is coming back to training because he is an important player for us and he has worked hard to recover from the injury he suffered with Holland.
“But we are really worried because after getting him fit again it is likely that we could lose him again if he is selected for the Olympics. This is a big problem – we prepare him and then he goes away with the national team.
“This season is very important for him. In his first season he was settling in but this time he has more experience and we are looking for him to give something from the beginning so it is really important for him to start working with his team.”
Should Babel go to Beijing he will miss Liverpool’s opening league games away at Sunderland and at home to Middlesbrough, as well as the third round qualification tie for the Champions League.
Benitez admitted: “This is a strange pre-season because we have to wait for players to return from the Euros at the start and then at the end we are going to lose players to the Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Peter Crouch is set to complete his £11m move to Portsmouth.
Once that move goes through Benitez will step up his attempts to bring in reinforcements with a resolution to the Gareth Barry saga topping his agenda. Diego Cavalieri has undergone a medical and should complete his £3m move to Anfield within days.
Benitez admitted he would have liked to have been able to keep Crouch but knows he cannot hinder the striker’s ambition to play regular first team football, particularly with Pompey having made such a lucrative offer.
He said: “We know we will miss him but you can't stop a player who wants to play every week. He understands that with Torres here and Gerrard as a second striker, like he was at the end of last season, it will be difficult for him.
“Everything is friendly. I've talked to him and the agents. If he can agree with Portsmouth it will be perfect for everyone.
“We have supported Peter from the day he signed and we offered him a new contract. But I can understand that he wants to play every week, wants to start every game.
“Also, a few people in the press were talking about £7million – so I talked about £15million to protect the club. But now it's just the player talking to Portsmouth and finding a solution.”
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Would be tragic to have a player on the recovery going to the olympics instead of getting match fit back home... starting to hate the olympics more and more!
Rafa Benitez rage over Ryan Babel Olympics call
Jul 9 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ today bemoaned the likely loss of Ryan Babel for the start of the new season - even though the winger has now recovered from an ankle injury picked up on international duty.
Babel was due to return to training at Melwood today having missed Euro 2008 through a ligament tear suffered during the build up to the tournament.
But having carefully managed his recuperation and got him back to fitness ahead of schedule, Liverpool face the prospect of losing Babel for the opening games of the new season as Holland intend to pick the 21-year-old for their Olympic Games squad.
If selected, Babel will join team mates Lucas, Javier Mascherano and possibly Emiliano Insua at the Games in Beijing.
Though delighted to have Babel back in action ahead of schedule, the Reds boss is angry that Holland are set to deprive him of the ex-Ajax man’s services when he feels he would be better served playing for Liverpool.
Benitez said: “Obviously, we are really pleased that Ryan is coming back to training because he is an important player for us and he has worked hard to recover from the injury he suffered with Holland.
“But we are really worried because after getting him fit again it is likely that we could lose him again if he is selected for the Olympics. This is a big problem – we prepare him and then he goes away with the national team.
“This season is very important for him. In his first season he was settling in but this time he has more experience and we are looking for him to give something from the beginning so it is really important for him to start working with his team.”
Should Babel go to Beijing he will miss Liverpool’s opening league games away at Sunderland and at home to Middlesbrough, as well as the third round qualification tie for the Champions League.
Benitez admitted: “This is a strange pre-season because we have to wait for players to return from the Euros at the start and then at the end we are going to lose players to the Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Peter Crouch is set to complete his £11m move to Portsmouth.
Once that move goes through Benitez will step up his attempts to bring in reinforcements with a resolution to the Gareth Barry saga topping his agenda. Diego Cavalieri has undergone a medical and should complete his £3m move to Anfield within days.
Benitez admitted he would have liked to have been able to keep Crouch but knows he cannot hinder the striker’s ambition to play regular first team football, particularly with Pompey having made such a lucrative offer.
He said: “We know we will miss him but you can't stop a player who wants to play every week. He understands that with Torres here and Gerrard as a second striker, like he was at the end of last season, it will be difficult for him.
“Everything is friendly. I've talked to him and the agents. If he can agree with Portsmouth it will be perfect for everyone.
“We have supported Peter from the day he signed and we offered him a new contract. But I can understand that he wants to play every week, wants to start every game.
“Also, a few people in the press were talking about £7million – so I talked about £15million to protect the club. But now it's just the player talking to Portsmouth and finding a solution.”
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Would be tragic to have a player on the recovery going to the olympics instead of getting match fit back home... starting to hate the olympics more and more!
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