Rafa issues winger warning

07 September 2009 20:17
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Ryan Babel and Albert Riera have been challenged to prove themselves by Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.[LNB] The wing duo have struggled to capture anything like their best form this season and have spent the majority of it keeping Benitez company on the sidelines.[LNB]Dutchman Babel has not been shy in voicing his disappointment and has intimated a desire to move to Ajax on-loan in January, ahead of the World Cup finals next summer.[LNB]Babel even went to the extent of claiming that promises had been broken by Liverpool over the amount of first-team opportunities he would have this season.[LNB]The underperforming winger was initially axed by Holland from the squad preparing to face Japan at the weekend and then Scotland on Wednesday.[LNB]He was only recalled after injury problems, and then expressed his fears that his inactivity at Liverpool would affect his chances of going to the 2010 finals.[LNB]No concernsBut Benitez is unmoved by the pairs' concerns.[LNB]He said: "Albert and Ryan both want to play. They play in the same position and so have to compete with each other, which is good for us.[LNB]"The message is very simple. On the pitch all of the players have to prove something.[LNB]"Ryan knows he cannot go now, so he has to impress. He is a good player and we know he has talent. It's important for us to talk with him and see how he progresses over these months.[LNB]"With the World Cup at the end of the season the majority of our players will want to impress and if they do well in each training session they will have more chances."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports