Premier League - Keane: Benitez didn't rate me

Eurosport - Sat, 07 Feb 09:57:00 2009

Robbie Keane has admitted Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez "just didn't fancy" him but said he had no regrets about moving to Anfield.

FOOTBALL Rafael Benitez Robbie Keane Premier League 2009 - 0

The Republic of Ireland striker makes his second debut for Tottenham against Arsenal on Sunday, having returned after just six months on Merseyside.

Keane scored just five times for Liverpool and on several occasions failed to make the substitutes' bench. He was sold back to Spurs on Monday in a deadline-day transfer worth up to £15 million.

He said: "Things happen for a reason. I went there and it didn't work out and now I'm back here.

"I never regret things I have done in football. I am back here now at a fantastic club with a fantastic manager."

It has been claimed that Benitez never wanted to sign Keane, and that the Liverpool board was the driving force behind his £20m capture last summer.

Keane acknowledged that the Spaniard did not appear to rate him highly and said his recent lacklustre performances were down to a lack of first-team football.

"When you are in and out of the team it is never easy," he added. "You need to play regularly to get your sharpness but sometimes a manager just doesn't fancy you.

"I found it difficult to take to be left out of the squad but I worked every day in training and I have moved on now and I am looking forward to the challenge at Spurs.

"Sometimes the grass is not always greener on the other side.

"There is a great feel around the club and I am glad Harry (Redknapp) gave me the opportunity to come back."

Keane has been handed the captain's armband by Redknapp and he hopes to inspire his team-mates to some improved performances.

"The reality is we are in a relegation fight. It doesn't matter how good a team you are, if you are down there it is going to be difficult," he admitted.

"It is clear to see the lads are low on confidence but it is up to me and the rest of the team to get the troops going.

"There is enough quality here but it is up to us to deliver. We need to stick together as a unit and get ourselves out of this situation."

Redknapp has once again expressed his delight at securing Keane and saluted the 28-year-old's leadership qualities.

"He is a fantastic player as well as being a terrific character. I have always loved the way he plays - the enthusiasm, the skill and everything he brings," said Redknapp.

"Even in training this week I have noticed a big difference, his enthusiasm rubs off on everyone else.

"He is going to be important for us. If people are not pulling their weight he will let them know, in a nice way. We are a very quiet team and I think that is important."

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 122 - 141 of 141

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  1. LFC ARE STILL @#$%. THO IT PAINS ME TO SAY IT WE ARE A­ SHADOW OF OUR FORMER SELF

    From kitchener01, on Sat 7 Feb 10:12PM

  2. tobiasbroughton - U R A COMPLETE T,W,A,T,

    From kitchener01, on Sat 7 Feb 9:51PM

  3. 161....I have never heard such a load of rubbish in my­ life!!!!!

    From David, on Sat 7 Feb 5:35PM

  4. i think Rafa made a good decision!!He was a big mistake­ at 18m,and lfc did well to recoup 15m of that as­ he's only worth about 5m,too expensive for a bench­ warming back up striker, they should have rather kept­ Bellamy,Crouch,Vorinin or even Pennant for the water­ carrying !Robbie was good for spurs because he was like­ a big fish in small pond, after making his mark there­ in the team. He was never top 4 standard and will­ always be one of these Ian Dowie type players who cries­ when he gets fouled! Good Riddance to the cry baby­ moaner, he should be at Arsenal, only he wouldnt make­ the team there either.

    From TOBIAS, on Sat 7 Feb 3:08PM

  5. rafa should leave ...end of ...good luck to keane may­ his wish come true ..bye bye rafa your next to go !!

    From nokop39, on Sat 7 Feb 12:58PM

  6. wht the @#$% is wrong with site if u cant post a­ messages

    From nokop39, on Sat 7 Feb 12:57PM

  7. Rafa is a @#$% @#$%
    he should of not sold Keane
    he is a­ gr8 player

    Now liverpool is liverfool
    YOULL NEVER­ @#$% ALONE

    From clark.micheal71, on Sat 7 Feb 11:36AM

  8. gerrard out for 3 weeks,who could play behind the­ striker?err robbie keane probably could

    From hodgey1972, on Sat 7 Feb 10:12AM

  9. YAHOO,STOP PEOPLE USING THE SITE AS A DATING­ POST.INVALID COMMENT YOU WILL TELL ME , IKNOW

    From valach, on Sat 7 Feb 9:43AM

  10. Robbies sit thats y no 1 rates him and benitez is @#$%­ too

    From adam, on Sat 7 Feb 9:09AM

  11. would have driven keane myself never rated him he­ couldnt score in a brothel seriously he never fitted in­ rafa has lost the plot never believed in the rotation­ if a player is playing well and not injured you would­ say they were on form he sticks them on the bench weird­ supported the reds for 37 years and ive seen some­ change but some of the teams rafa puts out you would­ think he didnt want certain cups you must try and win­ them all for the fans if nothing else come on lets see­ something to cheer about?

    From simmo, on Sat 7 Feb 9:03AM

  12. Welcome home Robbie, back in the team of Men not with­ the oddball superstars. Spurs is a team of tallented­ players not a team with some tallent.Harry Redknapp is­ second best manager in the Prem only bettered by Sir­ Alex whos record speaks for itself. Good luck to you­ Robbie and your team mates, so long as you finish below­ my beloved Man U.

    From Sandie, on Sat 7 Feb 8:52AM

  13. I have been thinking of this "fancy" business­ between managers and players in football. Ask Pennant­ about what goes on between Benitez and his spanish­ troops under the sheet. Ask Simpson the link between­ Wenger and Bendtner who is really bending the arse.­ Keane's legs are so horrible that only ugly betty­ from cucko-land will fancy him for the weekly wages.­ You can see why Arry with his @#$% head head fancy him.­ Spurs in championship next season.... they didn't­ fancy Jol!

    From al.barney, on Sat 7 Feb 8:24AM

  14. the power struggle at anfield will cost them the­ premiership!!

    From Wayne, on Sat 7 Feb 6:13AM

  15. keane should not be sold he should be a benchwarmer.­ wat if torres is injured against england.who to put­ ngog.o man. lucas another @#$% .we lose all the games­ this year thanks to him.spurs everton nxt wat real­ madrid. lucas dun deserved to play for liverpool. and­ now gerrard out injured is making many fans except­ liverpool happy. honestly benitez is playing mind game­ now. gerrard wont be out injured for three weeks.­ liverpool obviously need him against madrid. benitez­ said 3 weeks to ensure that he would not play for­ englang and coming bck injured and be out for two­ months and all those sheet. this is all lies. last year­ torres was out injured when he played for spain twice­ in an international friendly .last torres was valuable.­ this year gerrard is valuable. this is just a­ precaution for gerrard and liverpool . ENGLAND 1 SPAIN ­ 1 . YNWA

    From dhinesh_kop, on Sat 7 Feb 5:57AM

  16. 126... Is that after Spurs have been relegated then?

    From Dave, on Sat 7 Feb 5:29AM

  17. Comment 139...... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA he is Irish U­ MUG

    From Dave, on Sat 7 Feb 5:27AM

  18. actually william Q, you must be like 16 or not a­ liverpool fan you obviously don't remember roy­ evans or Souness when he was in charge of liverpool,­ now that was terrible.

    From michael, on Sat 7 Feb 5:18AM

  19. Rafa didn't fancy me either... says he prefers­ unshaven arm pits, so it was probably Robbie's­ awful legs that put the Spaniard off. But there you go,­ Hispanic males are complicated creatures.

    From Nina G, on Sat 7 Feb 4:28AM

  20. Suddenly RAFA's the most unwanted manager in the­ EPL.....he's a load of rubbish if you ask me. Worst­ Liverpool manager, EVER!!!!

    From William Q, on Sat 7 Feb 3:23AM
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