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Benitez leaps to defend Lucas

21 Aug 2009 - 15:50:49

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has lashed out at the critics of Lucas Leiva after the midfielder earned a call-up to the Brazil squad.

The 22-year-old has often been a made a scapegoat by fans and pundits, but has been described as Liverpool's best player in pre-season by Benitez.

And his good early season form has seen him be named in Brazil's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Benitez believes that the player is viewed as an easier target for media pundits than the more senior squad members at Anfield.

"Lucas has a very good mentality. But for someone of his age to suffer such criticism from the experts on TV is wrong," he said.

"He is so good but still he was criticised. I do not understand why they do not criticise other players, more senior players, when they do not play well.

"He is an easy target and maybe they are not brave enough to criticise the bigger players here.

"But he will have a big season. He was the best player in pre-season and at Spurs, when we did not play well, he was still one of the best alongside Glen Johnson and Pepe Reina.

"Hopefully they will now stop using him as a target. He is a very good lad, an excellent professional. I find it hard to understand that if you are an expert on TV, you cannot see these things."

Lucas is likely to start as Liverpool host Aston Villa on Monday evening.