Rafa backs Nando
Last updated : 19 October 2005 By Al Campbell
Despite initally struggling to adapt to the pace of the Premiership and having this season disrupted by injury, Rafael Benitez says Fernando Morientes will soon be amongst the goals for Liverpool.
"He's determined for sure to prove himself in England. I don't know why people keep talking about Joaquin - we've never talked about him, and we've certainly never talked about Morientes or (Djibril) Cisse [going the other way]," said Benitez.
"I read the things in the Spanish press and I talked to Nando and said to him 'Forget about all that'. I know he wants to make a success of it over here. That is clear. They've been talking about him going back to Spain in the press over there and I know he has friends who read the papers and talk to him, so I needed to speak with him.
"He understands the game better here now, but we need to under-stand his game better and he needs to know his team-mates better still.
"I was surprised the other day [against Blackburn] because, in 20 minutes, he had three chances and it wasn't normal that he missed them. I don't think they had anything to do with the English style of football. They were clear chances. He's a good finisher so it wasn't normal that he should miss them.
"He's playing well and working hard in terms of his physical condition. I think match fitness will come.
"You can see him in training and improve his physical performance, but you need to play in the reserves or the first team to get rid of the rustiness."
