RAFA BACKED MOMO
| Apr 12, '07 7:25 AM for group thisisanfield |
Rafael Benitez has today backed Momo Sissoko to return to top form after suffering the first dip of his Anfield career.
Benitez accepts Sissoko hasn't been at his powerful best over recent weeks but he insists it's only natural for a young player who has had injury problems to experience a drop in their performance levels.
"People still don't realise how young Momo is," said Benitez. "He's moved to a big club in a new country and played really well for a long time, but he's not an experienced player.
"We're not talking about someone like Didi Hamann who developed over a long period of his career, but a player who is still learning part of the game.
"When Momo came back from his shoulder injury, he played at a really high level immediately. Sometimes this happens when you come back, but then after four or five games it's harder to play at the same consistency if you've not played for a long time.
"Before this he also had a serious eye injury. I don't think that's still troubling him, but he did really well to come back so quickly from this. He's been really unlucky with injuries for the last two years and still came back strong.
"When you set a really high standard people expect you to play this way in every game. That's not easy, particularly for a young player, but Momo has been really good for us.
"I'm not worried about him. There are times in a season when it's more difficult and with Mascherano coming here and playing well, that adds to the competition. But we all know Momo's qualities."
Editor's Notes
The knives are sharpened and the juries are out in full force criticizing Momo Sissoko.
The ones that initially were so admirable of his qualities even comparing him to the likes of Patrik Vieira, are not dissing his performances. The hands that feed him are now biting him back.
Its not uncommon though the way the media is that most of the time they do not know what they are talking about. But more evidently, its the arrival of Javier Mascherano that has made them draw the comparisons.
Sissoko is a great destroyer but he does lack that little bit of eye for distributions. The fact that he came back doubly quick from injuries showed the fighting qualities in him and he is never one to whine about over the press. With time, and games under his belt, he will definitely fulfill the prophecy of becoming a great Liverpool player.
The truth is that, Sissoko is a good player but having got a better established player in Mascherano, he pales in comparison. The bottomline is, Liverpool have got a good player in Sissoko and a great one in Mascherano.
Right now, he needs the support and encouragement from his peers and the manager which is exactly what Rafa is doing.
Benitez accepts Sissoko hasn't been at his powerful best over recent weeks but he insists it's only natural for a young player who has had injury problems to experience a drop in their performance levels."People still don't realise how young Momo is," said Benitez. "He's moved to a big club in a new country and played really well for a long time, but he's not an experienced player.
"We're not talking about someone like Didi Hamann who developed over a long period of his career, but a player who is still learning part of the game.
"When Momo came back from his shoulder injury, he played at a really high level immediately. Sometimes this happens when you come back, but then after four or five games it's harder to play at the same consistency if you've not played for a long time.
"Before this he also had a serious eye injury. I don't think that's still troubling him, but he did really well to come back so quickly from this. He's been really unlucky with injuries for the last two years and still came back strong."When you set a really high standard people expect you to play this way in every game. That's not easy, particularly for a young player, but Momo has been really good for us.
"I'm not worried about him. There are times in a season when it's more difficult and with Mascherano coming here and playing well, that adds to the competition. But we all know Momo's qualities."
Editor's Notes
The knives are sharpened and the juries are out in full force criticizing Momo Sissoko.
The ones that initially were so admirable of his qualities even comparing him to the likes of Patrik Vieira, are not dissing his performances. The hands that feed him are now biting him back.Its not uncommon though the way the media is that most of the time they do not know what they are talking about. But more evidently, its the arrival of Javier Mascherano that has made them draw the comparisons.
Sissoko is a great destroyer but he does lack that little bit of eye for distributions. The fact that he came back doubly quick from injuries showed the fighting qualities in him and he is never one to whine about over the press. With time, and games under his belt, he will definitely fulfill the prophecy of becoming a great Liverpool player.
The truth is that, Sissoko is a good player but having got a better established player in Mascherano, he pales in comparison. The bottomline is, Liverpool have got a good player in Sissoko and a great one in Mascherano.
Right now, he needs the support and encouragement from his peers and the manager which is exactly what Rafa is doing.
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