Source: Daily_Mail
Alberto Aquilani injury woe could be all in the mind, hints Liverpool boss Benitez
Rafa Benitez is running out of patience with costly misfit Alberto Aquilani after appearing to doubt the validity of his latest ankle injury.[LNB]The £17million signing from Roma sat out the first three months of his ill-fated Liverpool career, due to the after-effects of ankle surgery, and is unlikely to play again this season after reporting more ankle trouble.[LNB] Walking wounded: £17m buy Alberto Aquilani is out injured yet again[LNB]As he reflected on another prolonged absence for the injury-jinxed Italy midfielder, Benitez made it plain he was beginning to sense mental frailty might pose a bigger threat to Aquilani's Anfield prospect than a suspect ankle.[LNB]Already beset by fitness problems during his Serie A days, the 25-year-old's slender frame has looked even less suited to the more punishing demands of the Barclays Premier League in his handful of Liverpool appearances so far.[LNB]Benitez appears to be coming round to the same view afterquestioning his pain threshold and seemingly leaving the door open fora summer return to Italy.[LNB]'He was complaining of some pain in his ankle, and he said hecouldn't train,' said the Liverpool manager, after Thursday night's 2-1defeat at Benfica. 'We will have to talk to the doctors when we getback to see what is going on, because at the moment, we don't know.[LNB]'Does he think he needs another operation? We don't know. He has some pain, and we will have to analyse that with the doctor. It is the same ankle as before. Some players can manage with pain, but not all. There are some players who cannot, when they have pain. When you talk of pain, you never know. It depends on the individual, and that can make it really difficult.'[LNB]Benitez made it just as clear there will be no way back for Albert Riera, after the out-of-favour winger launched a blistering personal attack on his fellow Spaniard and described Liverpool as a 'sinking ship' on the eve of their Europa League game with Lille.[LNB]Riera was ordered off Liverpool's training pitch for a variety of misdemeanours no fewer than three times, prior to his radio outburst, and further angered Benitez by speaking out again shortly after being told to stay quiet.[LNB]Falsely claiming Benitez was never on the training pitch was the last straw for the former Valencia coach, who will offload his troublesome winger in the summer if a compromise cannot be found in the meantime with Spartak Moscow.[LNB]Spartak refuse to meet Riera's demands for a 100 per cent pay hike, but Benitez said: 'We still have some time before the Russian transfer window closes, so we will see what can be done. For me, to talk like he did on the day before a massive game was really disappointing. All the more so when he was saying things that were not true. I was really surprised and so disappointed at the timing of it.[LNB]'He said he wants to be playing, but our fans are not stupid. They know what is going on, so we will see what happens next.'[LNB]Benitez remains optimistic about claiming fourth place, ahead of tomorrow's game on a Birmingham pitch that was condemned by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.[LNB]'Maybe we will need to show some character to cope with the surface at Birmingham, but it will be the same for both sides,' Benitez said.[LNB] Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez abandons belief in favour of keeping his fingers crossedBirmingham v LIVERPOOL: Rafael Benitez set to be without injured Alberto AquilaniBabel admits his 'stupid' sending off cost Liverpool dearly against BenficaLIVERPOOL FC
