I Had A ‘Flare-Up’ With Rafael Benitez - Liverpool's Albert Riera The winger has revealed his disappointment at being restricted to a bench role for the Reds... Liverpool winger Albert Riera has told Spanish publication AS of a bust-up he had with manager Rafael Benitez and confirmed his anger at failing to start the first three games of the season for the Merseysiders. "I didn't play the first game because I started training late after the Confederations Cup, like [Pepe] Reina and [Fernando] Torres," he said. "I was angry and had a flare-up at Benitez, but the day I don't get angry for being a substitute I will retire." After sitting out the defeat to Tottenham, Riera had to be satisfied with a late substitute appearance in the 4-0 win over Stoke City and he was an unused sub in the 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa. However, he earned a starting place in the 3-2 win over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok last weekend. Despite not featuring as often as he would have liked so far this season, Riera holds the Liverpool boss in high regard. "Benitez is a special coach who defends his own. I know he is with me, because he said so," he added. The former Espanyol man also said that missing out on Spain's Euro 2008 victory was difficult for him. "It was very hard but I will work to get to the World Cup to compensate for it," he said.
Was he not given time off for the funeral of the espanyol player so he wasnt training. He cant expect just to start the next game back
Bit like every time Rafa says something it's reported in the press as a "rant." The media don't like him, but fcuk them!
Nothing ever wrong with a player wanting to play more or not liking being subbed. It is the way people go about it that matters. Riera put in a decent performance when given a run out against Bolton......then there is someone like Babel.
he looks like quagmire from family!! good to hear heis angry at being dropped though!! __________________ quagmire - THAT'S who he looks like - jaysus twas wrecking my head who he resembled...the similarity is striking actually
Reira has done well for us, hopefully he gets plenty of game time. When he hogs the touchline he is excellent, not so much when he comes inside.
LOL ... never happened before and will never happen again Thats a fair shout mate, if he works hard he'll have his place on the first 11, if not, then he knows the score & same for everyone else in this world of ours.
I presume that hugs but a bit of a Freudian slip With the notable exception of Reina I think the Spanish players have suffered for their late Summer return simply as just that Torres is undroppable. It seems justified he hadn't started from the off and I didn't think he was at his previous level against Bolton. He was a breath of fresh when he came in playing great off the bat last season and but deffo tired the latter part of it. He'll get his match fitness and form back like Torres but he's a good example of a player that benefits from rotation throughout the season I think. Unfortunately he's comparing his situation to two compatriots that are in very different situations cos as the eternal first choice keeper and star stirker they simply always play when not injured. They and Gerrard are the exception to the rule.
its great to see hes annoyed at not getting game time.its what we need.id only be concerned if he was happy to sit on the bench doing nothing but pocket his wages