Pennant blasts Benitez: Rafa forced me to leave Liverpool because I'm English

23 January 2009 14:53
Reunited: Jermaine Pennant with former Liverpool team-mate Peter Crouch Winger Pennant has joined Pompey on loan until the end of the season after being told by Benitez that his Anfield career was over. Pennant started only two matches for Liverpool this season before being frozen out of Benitez's plans.   More... Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard to deny assaulting man in nightclub brawl Kop for sale to Kuwait - U.S. owners in talks with Arab billionaire LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB Pompey chairman admits Vieira move hampered by Achilles injury Liverpool's Pennant joins Portsmouth on loan until the end of season PORTSMOUTH FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB Pennant said: 'I am looking forward to Tony Adams speaking English. I don't know if it is the English mentality he dislikes but there are not a lot of English players at Liverpool. Training day: Pennant on the ball 'I have mentioned that before when I was at Arsenal so I guess I have not had much luck with foreign managers. 'Last season I played 34 games and in a Champions' League final the previous year for Rafa but now he has had a change of plans. 'It is not for me to question the manager because he has done so well for Liverpool but it seems very strange to go from playing every week to training on my own on Saturday afternoons. 'But that is Rafa for you and I don't think half the players at Liverpool can work him out. 'I have been speaking to a lot of the other Liverpool players and they could not understand why I was not being selected, especially in the games at home where they have struggled to win. 'It was the same with Peter Crouch and he had to get away too. 'I spoke to Crouchy a lot before I came here and he told me to join Portsmouth. He said it was a good club and that Tony would give me more chances to play.'  Pennant has the option of a permanent move to Fratton Park at the end of his loan but admitted he could yet join AC Milan or Real Madrid. He added: 'It is weird that I cannot get into Liverpool's team but Real Madrid want me. 'It is very flattering to be linked with a club of their size because they are one of the best teams in the world. Scroll down for more On the attack: Pennant criticised Benitez for not giving him a chance at Anfield 'I did not speak to Madrid directly but my agent may have done. I did not speak to Milan either but again my agent may have. 'I am here for six months because I want to play regular football and we will have to see what happens after that. 'It would be a great experience to play abroad and I am not ruling it out.'  Portsmouth face Swansea without Croatian playmaker Niko Kranjcar who has a groin injury. Richard Hughes returns after a hamstring injury.   More... Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard to deny assaulting man in nightclub brawl Kop for sale to Kuwait - U.S. owners in talks with Arab billionaire LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB Pompey chairman admits Vieira move hampered by Achilles injury Liverpool's Pennant joins Portsmouth on loan until the end of season PORTSMOUTH FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB  

Source: Daily_Mail