Mascherano Article

[CaptainXabi]

One interesting thing for me is how he didn't like the bright lights of Buenos Aires compared to his home town. Bodes well for us in the long term.

 

The complete transformation of Mascherano

 

 

After just 10 games, the Argentine has become Benitez's first-choice midfield anchor - and it's all down to trust, he tells Marcus Christenson

 

Sunday May 20, 2007

The Observer

 

On 3 December last year, Javier Mascherano made his last performance in a West Ham shirt. Alan Pardew gave him six minutes as Everton won 2-0. Carlos Tevez, Mascherano's Argentine team-mate and friend, played the whole game and it seemed to sum up West Ham's attitude towards the pair: Tevez may be a useful player when it comes to keeping us up, but what are we going to do with the little guy who runs around like a nutter in midfield?

 

Article continues

On Wednesday against Milan, Mascherano will be able to show the world why he deserves to play, just as he did for Argentina in the World Cup and when Liverpool eliminated Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final. The odd stray pass aside, he was immense that night at Anfield. Late in the game, he made a 50-yard sprint after conceding a free-kick in the Chelsea half to take up his position just outside the Liverpool penalty area before the set piece had even been taken. The home fans broke into spontaneous applause and his performance confirmed why he has leapfrogged Momo Sissoko and Xabi Alonso to become Rafael Benitez's favoured player in the manager's most important position: holding midfielder.

 

It has been some transformation and Mascherano puts it down to the trust Benitez has shown in him. 'I can't summon enough words of thanks for Rafa,' he said. When I really needed someone he didn't just give me a hand, he gave me an arm. He told me he had confidence in me; that is key: to find someone in England who trusts me. I was having a bad time [at West Ham]. I felt marginalised, like an ex-player.

 

'What was most difficult to take was the indifference. You feel ugly if people aren't bothered about you when you're trying to do a good job, when you're training hard. At one point I felt like throwing it all in, but I stayed a bit longer and that had a lot to do with my family, my wife and my daughter.'

 

Born in San Lorenzo, a small town in Santa Fe, Mascherano was spotted by Hugo Tocalli, the Argentina under-20 coach, while playing for Renato Cesarini. He was called up for the U15 side and earned a move to River Plate. But he never settled in Buenos Aires. 'The idea is I will go back [to San Lorenzo] when I leave football. I know that the days I've "lost" I will get back when I return. I didn't get used to life in Buenos Aires. I had a good time, but I have a really good time when I'm home. My family will always be there. My brother has a pizza parlour. I eat pizza and help him make them, kneading the dough, every time I go home.'

 

It is clear Mascherano is at his best when he is surrounded by people he can trust. At Corinthians, the club he joined as part of the same Kia Joorabchian-Media Sports Investment deal that later took him to Upton Park, he was seen as too aggressive. He remembers saying to Tevez that hopefully 'the Brazilians would understand that he was aggressive but not dangerous.'

 

Throughout the hard times, however, his displays for the U17s, U19s, U20s and the full national side, for which he won his first cap before he played a minute of first-team football for River Plate, gave him confidence in his ability

 

He was an integral part of the team that finished fourth in the U17 World Cup in 2001, was voted player of the tournament by his team-mates in the 2004 Copa America and won Olympic gold later that year, in Athens.

 

Diego Maradona and Benitez have both called him 'a monster of a player', the former saying he 'has the garra (gritty style) and distributes the ball with great precision'. His team-mate Alonso says: 'He doesn't speak perfect English yet, but on the pitch you have to speak with your feet. He plays like a 30- year-old. He has a cool mind. He is analysing and thinking about the game in each moment.'

 

Mascherano's maturity is key. From an early age, he set out to become the complete defensive midfielder. 'As a kid I dreamed of being like [Marcelo] Gallardo, the magnificent No 10, the skilful one, the captain and reference point on the pitch. But I wouldn't have made it, simple as that. If I had all of his skills I couldn't be a holding player, a No 5. I know my limitations: firstly I have to mark opponents, then be able to spread the play. I wouldn't end up doing anything if I tried to do more than that.'

 

Benitez knew what he was buying. 'He is a winner,' said Benitez. 'He's 22 and has 22 caps: how many players in England have that many caps, and for such a big country, at that age? It's amazing. I don't have any doubts about Javier's quality or his mentality. He may not be very tall, but he's a strong boy.'

 

The game against Milan will be Mascherano's eleventh in a Liverpool shirt. They have not lost when he has played. He is confident Liverpool will prevail in Athens but says the events of two years ago will have no bearing on the outcome. 'This is a new story,' he said. 'Milan beat United in the semi-final with a lot of authority. They are a club with tradition in the European Cup so it is going to be tough.

 

'I hope it's a great final. We have different styles of play and it will be a fascinating match. We were delighted to beat a hard side like Chelsea in the semis. It was a huge boost that we hope will inspire us in Athens.'

 

Mascherano is ready to do his part. He is the ultimate team player, whose favourite book when he was at school was written by the legendary LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson. 'I like it because he writes about sport, about how the group is more important than the individual,' he said.

 

No wonder Benitez likes him.

 

Article Here

[ShaunOfTheRed]

That's quality. He's been immense since breaking into the side and the fact that he's taking games from Xabi should say it all. Really looking forward to not only Wednesday but alse next season after he's had a proper off season.

[Ginu]

Legend after 10 games.

[hideNseek]

Did he not play at Chelsea?

[fyds]

Did he not play at Chelsea?

Think he was on the bench - certainly Alonso played.

[McBain]

Did he not play at Chelsea?

 

He played. Perhaps the reporter considers the tie as a whole as a victory. Or he just f***ed up his research