Rafa's blast over Kuyt
Oct 9 2006
EXCLUSIVE By CHRIS BASCOMBE, Liverpool Echo
RAFAEL BENITEZ today (Monday) reacted furiously to Liverpool's latest injury scare due to an international break
The Reds boss is sweating on the fitness of striker Dirk Kuyt, who hurt his ankle playing for Holland on Saturday.
Kuyt will have a scan today under the supervision of Dutch medics, but Benitez is livid the player wasn't released from duty immediately after suffering the knock.
The Spanish boss sees the incident as the latest example of national federations ignoring the interests of the clubs.
He believes it's time for a radical rethink on the relationship between the parties.
"If Kuyt is a doubt for Wednesday, it means he is not fit," said Benitez.
"They were talking about seeing if he can play. If he plays, he may miss the next three or four games for Liverpool, including Blackburn, the Champions League and Manchester United.
"Our doctor spoke to the Dutch doctor yesterday and they said he would have a scan."
Benitez believes new rules should be enforced to prevent national coaches taking such risks with the players.
"When people talk about the national teams, no-one ever talks about the money they make, it's always about the pride of playing for your country," he said.
"If Kuyt misses many games and Crouch gets injured, it means we may not win as many games as we would. Last season we had a situation where Riise was injured in a friendly for Norway and missed the Champions League game with Benfica.
"Where was our compensation? The national associations should pay.
"I believe they should pay 50 per cent of a player's wage when they play for their country, and 100 per cent if they are injured, for as long as they can't play a competitive game.
"Spain are playing a friendly with Argentina on Wednesday? Why? Maybe it would be different if they had to pay 50 per cent of their salaries.
"As a manager, I would prefer to have Kuyt return fit than be compensated, but this is a big problem."
Benitez also believes the schedule could be easily altered.
"We will have two days to work with the players before the game on Saturday," he said.
"Instead of playing agame on Saturday and Wednesday, they should be playing Wednesday and then Saturday, so we still have a week to prepare."
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Oct 9 2006
EXCLUSIVE By CHRIS BASCOMBE, Liverpool Echo
RAFAEL BENITEZ today (Monday) reacted furiously to Liverpool's latest injury scare due to an international break
The Reds boss is sweating on the fitness of striker Dirk Kuyt, who hurt his ankle playing for Holland on Saturday.
Kuyt will have a scan today under the supervision of Dutch medics, but Benitez is livid the player wasn't released from duty immediately after suffering the knock.
The Spanish boss sees the incident as the latest example of national federations ignoring the interests of the clubs.
He believes it's time for a radical rethink on the relationship between the parties.
"If Kuyt is a doubt for Wednesday, it means he is not fit," said Benitez.
"They were talking about seeing if he can play. If he plays, he may miss the next three or four games for Liverpool, including Blackburn, the Champions League and Manchester United.
"Our doctor spoke to the Dutch doctor yesterday and they said he would have a scan."
Benitez believes new rules should be enforced to prevent national coaches taking such risks with the players.
"When people talk about the national teams, no-one ever talks about the money they make, it's always about the pride of playing for your country," he said.
"If Kuyt misses many games and Crouch gets injured, it means we may not win as many games as we would. Last season we had a situation where Riise was injured in a friendly for Norway and missed the Champions League game with Benfica.
"Where was our compensation? The national associations should pay.
"I believe they should pay 50 per cent of a player's wage when they play for their country, and 100 per cent if they are injured, for as long as they can't play a competitive game.
"Spain are playing a friendly with Argentina on Wednesday? Why? Maybe it would be different if they had to pay 50 per cent of their salaries.
"As a manager, I would prefer to have Kuyt return fit than be compensated, but this is a big problem."
Benitez also believes the schedule could be easily altered.
"We will have two days to work with the players before the game on Saturday," he said.
"Instead of playing agame on Saturday and Wednesday, they should be playing Wednesday and then Saturday, so we still have a week to prepare."
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