Anybody seen this post in RAWK? It's a follow up interview to the previous.
Alright, Riera was interviewed again a couple of hours ago on 'El Larguero' of Cadena Ser and I just finished translating the hole thing as close to verbatim as i could. A little surreal, confusing and vague and but interesting nonetheless.
Host:Guillem Balague, What’s going on with Benitez and Riera who’s not been in the manager’s plans since I don’t know when?
Balague: Well he hasn’t started a game since January 26th and there are two interpretations as its usually the case in this situations. Riera has said publicly things that he’s possibly already expressed in private conversations. He feels it’s a personal issue. Doesn’t know exactly what it is . Doesn’t know why he’s not playing. He would like for the manager to explain why he’s not in his plans but the manager is keeping a distance with the players. And he has learned that there are a couple of Russian teams interested in him. He could leave right now if he’s allowed to and he’s created a big mess with that intention. So that Benitez will come out in public and say “ You’re not in my plans you can go”. And Riera’s objective is not so much to leave Liverpool as it is to play in the World Cup. I don’t know…he has hopes but I think in any case it would be very difficult for him to make the list. At any rate, he will try. He was already left out of the Euro in 2008 because he had a poor second half of the season at Espanyol then and he doesn’t want it to happen again but it is known that there is a certain distance between some players and Benitez. It hasn’t been the best of seasons and when the results don’t go your way, this kind of situations tend to happen.
Host:(Jose Ramon De la Morena)Albert Riera good evening
- Good evening.
How are you?
- Well…
Your tone of voice says it all…
- Heh…well it’s a bit late. We have a match tomorrow and we have to win at all costs because above all, ahead of any player’s personal situation is the club’s, which is most important. And the truth is that tomorrow we have a lot hanging on the balance because it is the only competition left for us to win some silverware. So we need to overcome the bad away result.
But when was the last time you played? January 26th Like Guillem said?
- I can’t recall. But I did play some 20-25 minutes of the second part against Lille in the first leg. But as a starter might be quite some time, yes. The last I remember was versus Tottenham at home, which we won 2-0 and the next match was a derby, versus Everton, which I didn’t play and haven’t since.
And did Benitez say anything to you?
- No, no.
But why is this? Because he signed you. Usually when a manager makes a personal signing, takes you over to another league, the normal thing would be to say something like: “Look Albert, right now I don’t feel you’re at your best or…
- Yeah, well but I think a lot of things can happen during the season…and…the situation is different but in this case we’ve worked together for two years and I feel that between player and manager there should be some form of dialogue in order to understand each other, because at the end of the day the most important thing, like I said, is the team. And in this case it’s not an easy situation because I’m not playing and I don’t notice…what I said is…I don’t want to be misunderstood here, I’m not looking to create any sort of controversy with the manager and I’m not saying he is the main culprit. I can assure you that if a player is 100% and playing out of this world I don’t think the manager, no matter how little he may like the player, will end up playing, right? So, I’m acknowledging that the player in my situation also has his share of the blame. However, it is odd that without a good reason, disappearing out of the team sheets and not getting playing time…and besides, the only thing I’m pointing out is that I don’t get the feeling that there’s a willingness to change the situation. If I do not form part of his plans there must be such and such things I’m not doing right…but at least let me know what I’m doing wrong to not get any playing time. The problem is that I don’t know.
But have you attempted to have a chat with Benitez regarding this situation Riera?
- Let’s see, during these two years we’ve talked many times…
Surely, but lately I mean, since January 26th when your problems started?
- I’ve been sincere, and I said we don’t speak, so we haven’t…that’s the reality.
But was there a…falling out some sort of moment where you had a discussion or ‘we gave each other the stink eye’, I don’t know…?Was there something that brought along this growing apart from each other? Something that caused this “If he doesn’t speak to me I won’t speak to him”?
- there have been times when you don’t play and you get mad, some matches where you feel you could’ve helped the team and didn’t, and I’m sure he has his reasons for not having me on the pitch and I’m sure I have mine as a player. But I think I’m old enough and have experience in football and, being honest with myself, I think there’s been times where I could have played and didn’t and like it or not you might get angry or mad or whatever and perhaps, I don’t know…he’s in charge and in a position of making decisions…
But is he a manager, Riera, is he a manager…because the last time I was there in Liverpool and we did the programme with him on the radio. Is he someone who speaks to the players? Because he told me he’s usually not on the pitch with the players during training. He’s in his office and has someone on the coaching staff work during the training sessions. His role is more as a manager. He said it was a reason he’s gotten heavier.
- (Laughs)I don’t know. I can tell you from my own personal experience. I can’t speak for my team-mates, as you would understand. Each player may have a different type of relationship, there’s players he does…
What I’m asking is if you have a lot of contact with him. If you see him often and if he says ‘Do this, correct that, etc..’ and if you have a chance of speaking to him. But if indeed, someone else carries out the training sessions…then I guess you wouldn’t see him as frequently.
- Well, as you well know here in England you’re not only a coach or ‘trainer’ but also a manager and obviously during the training sessions you can’t be there all the time because you have to attend to other business. But I can’t say he doesn’t correct things, by all means, that is the managers main job and it’s what he does, correct things. But I’m saying that on a personal level I haven’t received those instructions.
For example, on a daily basis, how often do you see him?
- In the morning.
In the mornings because he receives you there and you all have breakfast at the training ground?
- The players have breakfast together.
But does he come down to the training session, and gives the instructions. “today we’re doing a,b, and c” etc and then leaves or what?
- It’s not the same every day…
But on average what is it like?
- …but he does have other tasks inside the club and he’s not always present in training but we’re talking about a specific issue which is about me not playing and I can tell you only about my personal experience, which is that I haven’t had any sort of chat or conversation with him for, whatever reason.
So you feel there is something personal, some gesture you made or something he didn’t like about you and you two grew apart and you say that you haven’t gone straight to him to ask for an explanation but he hasn’t given them to you either…
- Let’s see, as you well know last season I played an important number of games…
You played 28 games and scored 3 goals…
- Last season I played poorly in some games yet I would get another opportunity the next match. So in that case I didn’t go to his office to ask for an explanation or to say that I shouldn’t play because I didn’t do so well in the last game. So, out of respect towards my team-mates I wouldn’t go now and ask him why he’s not putting me on the pitch. However, aside from the football issue there is the personal treatment and in this case, on a personal level I believe that as adults if we wanted to fix this we could talk and repair or, at least attempt, to come to a closer understanding.
Are you planning on this? Tomorrow…because I’m sure people are going to call him and say “Albert said…”
- Yes, yes, of course. I have no problem doing that whatsoever. Talking is the key to understanding each other and I think it should be that way. And at the end, the important thing for the good, not only my own, but the good of the club, his own and everybody’s is for it to be that way, thru speaking. I’ve explained my situation and what I don’t want and have no interest in is to make an enemy out of Rafa, at all, on the contrary. I don’t want to create any controversy but my situation is what it is. I have a very low chance of making the WC squad…
That is evident. Last season you were part of the national team squad and you were mostly a starter for Liverpool …
- And I’m looking for a solution to at least get to play football and have at least the minimal chance of making the WC squad .
Albert, but either way Rafa is not the sort of manager that is known for encouraging players. He likes to keep a distance. Which doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing at all. It’s one form of tactical approach.
- I wouldn’t know what to answer to that. Let’s see, I think every player is different. I think it’s impossible to…
Depends on the player…
- I think it’s different on each case. Every player has a different type of character, personality. So I feel you should treat players according to their personality. So perhaps, some players it’s better to encourage them, give them confidence, give them a little pat on the back – sometimes that’s worth more than a thousand words-. So I don’t know…
He’s never done that with you?
- That’s why I mention it, sometimes these types of things give you more confidence to keep working and I’ve never gotten that from him but perhaps he has his own reasons for that.
If you don’t play, of course, it’s going to be impossible to make it back on the national team.
- Of course. As soon as the list of players for the match against France came out I knew I wouldn’t be on it. And I thanked them for getting in contact with me and becoming interested on my situation. But it is normal that if a player is not getting regular playing time he’s not going to get called up for the national team. Specially this squad where it’s very difficult to get a place [because of the quality].
And why do you think Riera that this year in Liverpool things haven’t worked out the way everyone expected?
- I don’t know, I ask myself the same question. Because they changed players? Simply…well not simple players because they’re both playing for Real Madrid. So they’re clearly good, but I feel they were both well replaced because we signed the right back for the English national team and the player who replaced Xabi Alonso was a starter for Roma, Aquilani. So..
With Xabi Alonso he didn’t have a great relationship either because I know he didn’t speak to Xabi much practically for the whole of last season. They didn’t have a great relationship. You must know about this even if you aren’t willing to admit it.
- Well that was a situation between him and Xabi but they knew it wasn’t the best because Xabi also had his few moments where he didn’t play and they had their issues but look, besides all of that, which can happen on a daily basis, there are twenty –five players on a squad and there are many different circumstances during a season, there are highs and lows. Sometimes you may lose a game and come back with low morale and have some sort of clash or misunderstanding with someone. But at the end the important thing is how you mend the relationship and how it ends up for the good of the group. And this is the situation we need to come together and fix. And this is what I want, by all means, and I repeat, I don’t want to create a conflict with anybody. What I want, if possible…I don’t want to have to leave, I’d much rather stay at this great club and I’m extremely happy here. All I want is a chance to play. And if I don’t play and I’m given some reasons then at least I’ll know why I’m not playing. But at least I’ll know what I’m doing wrong and I can work to improve in those aspects. So, this is all I want to know and what I’m trying to do to have a chance to get on the pitch and be happy here, which in all honestly is a terrific place to play football.
We’ll get this fixed tomorrow Albert you’ll see. As soon as Rafa rings you up and says “What did you say, I was told this, what not..” you’ll see this will take care of itself.
- This is what I hope for and wish.
I’m sure of it, you’ll see.
- Besides, if you put yourself in my place is what you’d wish for. All you want is to be well and never, never…sometimes when you get mad and say ‘f***, this person is such’ …at the end those things lead to nowhere. And I think all of us wish to be cordial with each other because otherwise it’s all somber faces and never leads to any positive changes.
Is it very cold there in Liverpool tonight?
- Actually not, lately, this past week’s we’ve managed to sneak it a game of golf here and there (chuckles)so this means the good weather is coming back.
Very well, take care Albert, good night.
- Thank you very much man, good night.
http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index....opic=255301.200Come to think of it though, there may be a simpler explanation to all these. Perhaps after Babel was rewarded a few starts since his public rant that Riera might think of using the same tactic.
Anyway the interview does reveal that perhaps Rafa is not as engaged in training sessions as we all perceive. After all, once Rafa found out that Babel was unhappy, he called him in and had a proper talk. After that, he was rewarded with some games and actually put in effort. Don't forget that there are 20-odd players in the first team, and also with the restructuring of the youth and academy teams, he always would have his mind on other things. Perhaps it's also right to question the coaching staff as aren't they suppose to be guiding the players towards the right direction? Rafa may be in charge of the team sheet but he is advised by the staff.
Either that or Riera has seriously drop out from Rafa's plans. Didn't Jovanovic sign a pre-season contract? If that's the case I can really sympathise with him.
And defesta, it's silly to compare football with badminton. It's Liverpool FC after all, you're always gonna have to fight for your place. The question here is not whether he is playing or not, but rather the communication or the reason (or lack of) why he is not playing. Riera's frustrated he is not given pointers by the manager on where to improve.
PS: If you guys would like to talk about your own players, at least get their names right. It's Riera, not Reira or Riena.
Mar 13 2010, 10:20 AM, updated 16y ago
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Agree! 
) and then we still put on our jerseys and then watch the game over and over every week in and week out.
Yups! Been those situation before..mostly this season..but who care 'bout the rest..LFC 4 life!!! 
What a 1'st team selection lol!!!
)
and so long we keep their wingers quiet and cut their supplies and crosses we might have a slight chance as i believe we are better in the middle of the park. we are certainly the underdogs here and i go with duke's prediction that manu should win. i hope i am proven wrong.
Idk, he's not trying his best I guess.
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