League title unrealistic - Reina

[DonRafa]

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina feels winning the Premier League title is "not a realistic objective" for his side this season.

 

The Reds finished second last term but their hopes of a first league title since 1989/90 have been hit by two defeats in their opening four games.

 

Reina told The Guardian: "There isn't frustration, there is resignation.

 

"Maybe it's time to get realistic and not think about the title but just about winning the next game."

 

Liverpool sold midfielder Xabi Alonso during the summer and, despite them spending around £38m to bring in Glen Johnson from Portsmouth and Alberto Aquilani from Roma, question marks remain over the depth of manager Rafael Benitez's squad.

Reina feels his side lacks the quality that is needed, adding: "We know what's in the squad; we can't do anything about it. All we can do is roll our sleeves up, work hard and try to win matches.

 

"Teams like Manchester United have lots of players who can tip the balance; we haven't got the individuals.

 

"There are games that get congested and we haven't got the vision other sides boast. Chelsea have Didier Drogba, who can bring down any ball - a useful option we haven't got."

 

The 27-year-old Spanish goalkeeper, whose only silverware with the Reds since making a £6m move from Villarreal in 2005 is the 2006 FA Cup, called upon the club's American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to improve Liverpool's chances by giving Benitez more money to spend.

"It would be good if the owners made an effort economically, if they pushed." Reina said.

 

"It would be lovely if we found ourselves in an economic position where we can bring in players and build a squad that can compete with other sides.

 

"But it's up to the owners to try to bring players in, not us."

Reina feels that Liverpool's title hopes are not over yet but admits they are struggling to live up to their pre-season billing as one of the main challengers.

 

"Can we win the league? I think so but there are other teams that are very capable of winning it - Chelsea, United, Arsenal, Manchester City.

 

"We can't set ourselves objectives. We all want to win the league but right now it is not a realistic objective."

 

'ere

 

He knows, we know, lets hope the rest of our support get the message about these wasters

[Toni]

sez plain truth

[DonRafa]

sez plain truth

 

Yes. Just wish 'the truth' was more widely acknowledged by 'the faithful'

[growler]

Whilst I Agree with what he said, and where the point is being made, I hope its not a genuine thought in the players minds that we cannot win the title this season.

 

I wonder if we had Silva lined up with Keane money plus the alonso profit, and then it went, so Silva went, and therefore the negativity around Torres, Riera and Reina? they do seem a bit off colour.

[Earl Hafler]

I wonder if we had Silva lined up with Keane money plus the alonso profit, and then it went, so Silva went, and therefore the negativity around Torres, Riera and Reina? they do seem a bit off colour.

 

That's because of Alonso leaving...and the return of the Vog.

 

 

Lettin all the people know

That he's back to run the show

[londonkopite]

Looks like a great get out clause for the players. Sad really given that we have outspent United and Arsenal in the past 5 years. Even sadder that we probably got Rafa because of his ability to win things without spending loads of money.

[Nathan Explosion]

Sad really given that we have outspent United and Arsenal in the past 5 years. Even sadder that we probably got Rafa because of his ability to win things without spending loads of money.

 

shut the f*** up you great big f***ing spanner!

[redjersey]

Looks like a great get out clause for the players. Sad really given that we have outspent United and Arsenal in the past 5 years. Even sadder that we probably got Rafa because of his ability to win things without spending loads of money.

Jeez, you're a tiresome fecker. Please stop repeating yourself in every boring post.

[David Hodgson]

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina feels winning the Premier League title is "not a realistic objective" for his side this season.

 

The Reds finished second last term but their hopes of a first league title since 1989/90 have been hit by two defeats in their opening four games.

 

Reina told The Guardian: "There isn't frustration, there is resignation.

 

"Maybe it's time to get realistic and not think about the title but just about winning the next game."

 

Liverpool sold midfielder Xabi Alonso during the summer and, despite them spending around £38m to bring in Glen Johnson from Portsmouth and Alberto Aquilani from Roma, question marks remain over the depth of manager Rafael Benitez's squad.

Reina feels his side lacks the quality that is needed, adding: "We know what's in the squad; we can't do anything about it. All we can do is roll our sleeves up, work hard and try to win matches.

 

"Teams like Manchester United have lots of players who can tip the balance; we haven't got the individuals.

 

"There are games that get congested and we haven't got the vision other sides boast. Chelsea have Didier Drogba, who can bring down any ball - a useful option we haven't got."

 

The 27-year-old Spanish goalkeeper, whose only silverware with the Reds since making a £6m move from Villarreal in 2005 is the 2006 FA Cup, called upon the club's American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to improve Liverpool's chances by giving Benitez more money to spend.

"It would be good if the owners made an effort economically, if they pushed." Reina said.

 

"It would be lovely if we found ourselves in an economic position where we can bring in players and build a squad that can compete with other sides.

 

"But it's up to the owners to try to bring players in, not us."

Reina feels that Liverpool's title hopes are not over yet but admits they are struggling to live up to their pre-season billing as one of the main challengers.

 

"Can we win the league? I think so but there are other teams that are very capable of winning it - Chelsea, United, Arsenal, Manchester City.

 

"We can't set ourselves objectives. We all want to win the league but right now it is not a realistic objective."

 

'ere

 

He knows, we know, lets hope the rest of our support get the message about these wasters

 

 

There's a lot wrong with that.

 

I don't mind the dig at the owners,but the rest is pretty defeatist.

[Stevie H]

There's a lot wrong with that.

 

I don't mind the dig at the owners,but the rest is pretty defeatist.

 

 

"Can we win the league? I think so" isn't particularly defeatist. the rest of it is just brutally honest.

[Chili Palmer]

The players thinking about winning the league after 5 games is wrong, players thinking about winning the next game is right.

 

Pepe, as always, is right.

[Hassony]

The players thinking about winning the league after 5 games is wrong, players thinking about winning the next game is right.

 

Pepe, as always, is right.

If we win the league it will be an unbelievable achievement considering the size of our squad.

[GWistooshort]

THE ROAD TO MADRID

Sep 16 2009 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

 

PEPE REINA was as surprised as anyone at Anfield when he saw the weekend headlines.

 

The Reds goalkeeper stood accused of writing off Liverpool’s hopes of Premier League glory.

 

After an interview given in his native tongue prior to the resounding win over Burnley, the Spaniard was quoted as saying the title “is not a realistic objective” this season.

 

However, it appears that something was clearly lost in translation.

 

Rather than being down in the dumps, Reina is bullish about what this Liverpool side is capable of achieving over the next eight months.

 

But the 27-year-old insists it would be foolish to burden his team-mates with any bold predictions.

 

“What I meant was that it’s unrealistic to be talking about winning trophies in September,” he said.

 

“I’m certainly not pessimistic. It’s just too soon to speak about anything like that and I prefer to wait.

 

“It’s impossible to win or lose anything at this time. You can only win things in May.

 

“What I wanted to say is that we have to go little by little, step by step and think game after game. Let’s not put ourselves under stupid pressure.”

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-24703288/

[Benzo-13]

THE ROAD TO MADRID

Sep 16 2009 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

 

PEPE REINA was as surprised as anyone at Anfield when he saw the weekend headlines.

 

The Reds goalkeeper stood accused of writing off Liverpool’s hopes of Premier League glory.

 

After an interview given in his native tongue prior to the resounding win over Burnley, the Spaniard was quoted as saying the title “is not a realistic objective” this season.

 

However, it appears that something was clearly lost in translation.

 

Rather than being down in the dumps, Reina is bullish about what this Liverpool side is capable of achieving over the next eight months.

 

But the 27-year-old insists it would be foolish to burden his team-mates with any bold predictions.

 

“What I meant was that it’s unrealistic to be talking about winning trophies in September,” he said.

 

“I’m certainly not pessimistic. It’s just too soon to speak about anything like that and I prefer to wait.

 

“It’s impossible to win or lose anything at this time. You can only win things in May.

 

“What I wanted to say is that we have to go little by little, step by step and think game after game. Let’s not put ourselves under stupid pressure.”

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-24703288/

Nice one Pep but guarantee this is forgotten but Saturday's article will be media mantra for a while yet.