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Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz: Rafael Benitez Cannot 'Guarantee' Liverpool A Top-Four Finish
No CL spot in Rafa's stocking, says Santa...
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Dec 22, 2009 11:31:11 PM
Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has warned Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, against making guarantees that he cannot keep.
The Spaniard declared last week that the Reds, who currently sit eighth in the Premier League standings, were a certainty to finish in the top four this season.
And following the Anfield giants' not-so-surprising defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday, Santa Cruz insists Benitez will only have himself to blame if he fails to deliver on his promise.
"I don't think you can guarantee anything," said the Paraguayan star, according to The Mirror.
"It’s hard to guarantee things, especially when things are not going in the right direction like they are for Liverpool.
"Things are not going the way they would want them to and to guarantee things in that situation is hard."
Man City are presently two spots ahead of Liverpool in the table - six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa but with a game in hand.
Santa Cruz added: "We have confidence, but also the team is focused on not talking too much and instead performing better than we have been.
"All the while we are not playing as a fantastic team, I don't think anybody will say anything about the top four."
The media focus of late has shifted rather dramatically from the Sky Blues' on-field efforts to the saga surrounding Roberto Mancini's replacing Mark Hughes in the Eastlands hotseat.
Santa Cruz was alleged to have publicly expressed his anger at the decision recently, although he simultaneously stressed the need to look forward - a message he iterates.
"We will never know if Mark Hughes would have taken us into the top four," he said.
"We were fighting for it, but now whatever happens, it is up to the team under the new management. And of course, everybody will put in their best efforts to make it happen.
"That is the aim - the goal is there. We know we’ve not been performing as well as we should or could and it hurts.
"But everybody is trying to find their best form, regain their confidence and perform better in the coming games.
"This is the reality and we are looking forward now."
Mick Maguire, Goal.com UK
The Spaniard declared last week that the Reds, who currently sit eighth in the Premier League standings, were a certainty to finish in the top four this season.
And following the Anfield giants' not-so-surprising defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday, Santa Cruz insists Benitez will only have himself to blame if he fails to deliver on his promise.
"I don't think you can guarantee anything," said the Paraguayan star, according to The Mirror.
"It’s hard to guarantee things, especially when things are not going in the right direction like they are for Liverpool.
"Things are not going the way they would want them to and to guarantee things in that situation is hard."
Man City are presently two spots ahead of Liverpool in the table - six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa but with a game in hand.
Santa Cruz added: "We have confidence, but also the team is focused on not talking too much and instead performing better than we have been.
"All the while we are not playing as a fantastic team, I don't think anybody will say anything about the top four."
The media focus of late has shifted rather dramatically from the Sky Blues' on-field efforts to the saga surrounding Roberto Mancini's replacing Mark Hughes in the Eastlands hotseat.
Santa Cruz was alleged to have publicly expressed his anger at the decision recently, although he simultaneously stressed the need to look forward - a message he iterates.
"We will never know if Mark Hughes would have taken us into the top four," he said.
"We were fighting for it, but now whatever happens, it is up to the team under the new management. And of course, everybody will put in their best efforts to make it happen.
"That is the aim - the goal is there. We know we’ve not been performing as well as we should or could and it hurts.
"But everybody is trying to find their best form, regain their confidence and perform better in the coming games.
"This is the reality and we are looking forward now."
Mick Maguire, Goal.com UK
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