Source: FOOTYMAD
McLeish Explains Chucho Decision
Alex McLeish has explained his reasons for not signing Christian Benitez on a permanent deal. The Ecuardorian international striker spent the whole of last season on loan at St Andrews with Blues having the option to sign him on a permanent deal at the end of the loan deal. However, McLeish believed that the price that Mexican side Santos Laguna wanted for Benitez was too high and so decided against making thesigning. “We did have an agreement, the previous board put one in place, so I don’t think it’s anything to do with the current board,” McLeish told the Birmingham Mail. “He did very well for us. I am sorry to lose Chucho but the deal was just too rich for us. “We would have liked to have negotiated a smaller fee but his club were not having it. “It was a difficult decision not to spend the asking price because I do believe he helped make us a better side and more potent when he was on form. “Defenders were wary of him and although we didn’t get the goals return, I do believe he enhanced the team. That’s why, ideally, I would have liked to have kept him but, taking everything into account, it was just too rich for us. “So, my task now for my team, my coaches, staff, fans, everybody at Birmingham is to find somebody who can do a better job. ‘"That’s what I am employed to do. I have got to try and find a player who can be even better than Chucho, not just as effective; players in general who can improve us.
