|
|
Injury Crisis At Liverpool Is Lifting - Rafael Benitez
Reds boss not feeling as blue as before..
08-Nov-2009 12:26:23 PM
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes that the injury plague that has struck his squad is finally beginning to show signs of abatement.
Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera and Martin Skrtel have returned to training, as has Steven Gerrard after being unable to train for a fortnight owing to his groin injury.
Benitez also explained the situation with Fernando Torres, who has been playing despite reports that he may require surgery to cure a hernia problem.
"The injury situation is improving," he is quoted by FIFA.com as saying.
"Several players have been in light training. But there is a big difference, though, between being fit and being available.
"Gerrard has trained after being unable to do so for 15 days. He cannot be considered to be fit.
"Torres is a little better. He will train and work with the physios, but whether he will be okay to play against Birmingham [City, on Monday], we do not know yet.
"He could play and we must be careful with him.
"We will look at the situation after every training session. The experience I have had for many years with this sort of problem is to carry on and see how players react. Some can play all season with the problem, some need to stop and rest. They are all different."
The former Valencia coach explained that Torres had put aside his own discomfort to continue leading the line for the Reds, whose lack of attacking alternatives has been cruelly exposed this term.
"Torres is the one who can play," he said.
"He has been in pain, but he wants to play for the team - he has a great mentality. I believe we can carry on with him.
"Let us see how we do in the next game, then they will have 15 days of the international break to get fit, then let's see how they are after that."
Adithya Ananth, Goal.com UK
Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera and Martin Skrtel have returned to training, as has Steven Gerrard after being unable to train for a fortnight owing to his groin injury.
Benitez also explained the situation with Fernando Torres, who has been playing despite reports that he may require surgery to cure a hernia problem.
"The injury situation is improving," he is quoted by FIFA.com as saying.
"Several players have been in light training. But there is a big difference, though, between being fit and being available.
"Gerrard has trained after being unable to do so for 15 days. He cannot be considered to be fit.
"Torres is a little better. He will train and work with the physios, but whether he will be okay to play against Birmingham [City, on Monday], we do not know yet.
"He could play and we must be careful with him.
"We will look at the situation after every training session. The experience I have had for many years with this sort of problem is to carry on and see how players react. Some can play all season with the problem, some need to stop and rest. They are all different."
The former Valencia coach explained that Torres had put aside his own discomfort to continue leading the line for the Reds, whose lack of attacking alternatives has been cruelly exposed this term.
"Torres is the one who can play," he said.
"He has been in pain, but he wants to play for the team - he has a great mentality. I believe we can carry on with him.
"Let us see how we do in the next game, then they will have 15 days of the international break to get fit, then let's see how they are after that."
Adithya Ananth, Goal.com UK
Inside Goal.Com
-
Cartoon: Rio Ferdinand may have the last laugh
Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day...
-
Euro 1996 Legends: Matthias Sammer, Germany
The heir to Franz Beckenbaur's throne, Sammer's excellent displays as sweeper for Germany led them to their third European title...
-
Euro 2012 Trivia: Which team has the fewest combined caps among them?
Which is the least experienced team in Euro 2012? Time to test your knowledge, mate
-
Vote for your Goal.com World Player of the Week
Have your say on who you think should win Goal.com's weekly honour
-
Euro 2012 a timely respite for depressed Spain
With 24 per cent unemployment, wage cuts and little hope for improvement in the short term, the continental competition will at least take people's minds off their sad situation