Rafa stands by Pennant
30 Nov 2006 - 08:54:14
Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant was backed by Reds boss Rafa Benitez after a difficult night at Anfield during the goalless draw with Portsmouth.
Pennant was booked and subbed late on in the game before being booed by some sections of the home fans, who have yet to see the wideman live up to his £6.7million price-tag.
Benitez said: "We told Pennant to be confident, to get in his crosses and to beat defenders.
"He was trying really hard, I was pleased with that. But he must do things in a simple way, get his crosses in and hope the forwards can reach them.
"He was getting in plenty of good crosses, but sometimes the forwards were not up in support.
"As long as he keeps trying and working I am happy, but the moment he becomes afraid to try things then he will not improve."
Meanwhile, Benitez was also upset by what he perceived as time-wasting tactics by Pompey throughout the stalemate.
He added: "They were time-wasting from the first minute, their goalkeeper was taking time walking across his area for goal-kicks from very early on.
"The referee only put on two minutes in the first half and five in the second, but there was a lot more. In the end it is down to the referee to book players."