Rafael Benitez today revealed why he allowed Robbie Keane to rejoin Tottenham just six months after arriving at Anfield.
The Republic of Ireland striker yesterday completed a deadline day return to north London after failing to establish himself in the Liverpool team on a regular basis.
"Sometimes good players cannot settle down in the team and when this happens you have to consider the situation and try to react quickly," the Liverpool boss explained today.
"If it is not good for the team then it is better for everyone to make a decision and because of the situation in the transfer market and for the opportunity for the player we had to do it now.
"I have to analyse things and try to look at the bigger picture and this means thinking of the club and the team and what is best for them."
Benitez admits reducing the club's striking options at this stage of the season is a risk - but he feels it is one he had to take.
"We still have Babel, Ngog and Kuyt as well as Torres. It is a risk but the situation was not good and we needed to do something," he added.
"Now I would like to wish Robbie the best because although things did not work out he has been working hard for us.
"He was trying to do his best and the key was that Spurs showed a lot of interest and they were pushing really hard for him.
"The player needed to play and he was not doing that as much as he would have liked with us.
"But I cannot criticise him in any way because, as I have said, he tried to do his best for us."
Feel free to merge MODS.........
The Republic of Ireland striker yesterday completed a deadline day return to north London after failing to establish himself in the Liverpool team on a regular basis.
"Sometimes good players cannot settle down in the team and when this happens you have to consider the situation and try to react quickly," the Liverpool boss explained today.
"If it is not good for the team then it is better for everyone to make a decision and because of the situation in the transfer market and for the opportunity for the player we had to do it now.
"I have to analyse things and try to look at the bigger picture and this means thinking of the club and the team and what is best for them."
Benitez admits reducing the club's striking options at this stage of the season is a risk - but he feels it is one he had to take.
"We still have Babel, Ngog and Kuyt as well as Torres. It is a risk but the situation was not good and we needed to do something," he added.
"Now I would like to wish Robbie the best because although things did not work out he has been working hard for us.
"He was trying to do his best and the key was that Spurs showed a lot of interest and they were pushing really hard for him.
"The player needed to play and he was not doing that as much as he would have liked with us.
"But I cannot criticise him in any way because, as I have said, he tried to do his best for us."
Feel free to merge MODS.........
We'll get the truth of what really went on a few years down the line, till then i hope the media don't turn it into a slagging match between Rafa & Keane, until we hear Keane's reaction to our statement we don't know, because you can bet the rags will put it a little more bluntly to Keane when they ask him why Rafa thought HE wasn't a good enough player, or what did he do or not do to make Rafa want rid so soon.
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