Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has insisted that Jamie Carragher’s recent conversion to a right-back is only a temporary measure, vowing that he will be bringing in a full back in the summer - believed to be Schalke’s Rafinha.
Carragher was employed by Benitez at right back lat week during Liverpool’s Champions League draw with Arsenal at the Emirates and is set to play there again on Tuesday in the crucial second leg.
The consummate professional Carragher continues to do a fine job at full back even though he has made no secret of his preference to play in the centre.
The move, however, is just a short-term one, promises Rafa Benitez as with Steve Finnan injured and Alvaro Arbeloa out of form.
"I wasn't nervous about asking Carra to play in the position, he knows my idea and also he knows that he needs to work for the team," said Benitez.
"In some games he needs to do this job and I think it is OK. We know that he likes, he prefers to play as a centre-back. But he knows that it is important now for the team his position as right full-back.
"He is the vice-captain so he knows he must be an example for the rest of the players. I was talking with him and he knows my idea about the future, so it is not a problem.
"His future is not as a right back. Finnan was injured and we were using Arbeloa, so I don't have any problem in this position. The only thing is the qualities and conditions of Carra are different to Arbeloa or Finnan.
"I was trying to use Carra because defensively he is more aggressive. That was the idea," Benitez added.
Rafinha could be the replacement, although he has recently penned a deal extension at Schalke. Still, with one immediate first-teamer set to join the fray at Anfield, his name has been mentioned more than once.
Carragher was employed by Benitez at right back lat week during Liverpool’s Champions League draw with Arsenal at the Emirates and is set to play there again on Tuesday in the crucial second leg.
The consummate professional Carragher continues to do a fine job at full back even though he has made no secret of his preference to play in the centre.
The move, however, is just a short-term one, promises Rafa Benitez as with Steve Finnan injured and Alvaro Arbeloa out of form.
"I wasn't nervous about asking Carra to play in the position, he knows my idea and also he knows that he needs to work for the team," said Benitez.
"In some games he needs to do this job and I think it is OK. We know that he likes, he prefers to play as a centre-back. But he knows that it is important now for the team his position as right full-back.
"He is the vice-captain so he knows he must be an example for the rest of the players. I was talking with him and he knows my idea about the future, so it is not a problem.
"His future is not as a right back. Finnan was injured and we were using Arbeloa, so I don't have any problem in this position. The only thing is the qualities and conditions of Carra are different to Arbeloa or Finnan.
"I was trying to use Carra because defensively he is more aggressive. That was the idea," Benitez added.
Rafinha could be the replacement, although he has recently penned a deal extension at Schalke. Still, with one immediate first-teamer set to join the fray at Anfield, his name has been mentioned more than once.
No comments:
Post a Comment