Pepe Reina believes that Liverpool's onfield bust-up was merely an example of the spirit that will be required to overhaul Manchester United.
The Anfield keeper watched in horror as team-mates Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa almost came to blows after a heated exchange during the win at West Brom.
The pair have been criticised for the very public show of disharmony in the Reds camp but the Spaniard insisted they were just showing the passion needed to challenge at the top of the table.
"It showed our mentality and our motivation to win the game and not to concede a goal," said Reina.
"It is normal and it can happen on the pitch so let's forget it. We are trying our hardest to catch Manchester United and it just showed the mentality we have in trying to be the best."
Liverpool are desperately frustrated they failed to catch United despite a club record haul of points.
If they win their last match, they will finish on 86 - their biggest total ever, and will also become the only side to lose just two matches and not win the league.
Carragher's show of spirit threatened to spill over when he raged at Arbeloa for failing to get back to cover the right back position.
But Reina believes that Liverpool must continue to show that sort of desire if they are to take the final step and actually get past United and win the Premier League.
"We have already beaten the club record in terms of points but it wasn't enough," he said.
"United didn't slip at any time so we have to congratulate them and keep pushing for the next few years.
"We are really proud to be closer but we will be even prouder to win it. That's the next step.
"We are becoming a stronger team because when I first joined Liverpool we were something like 30 points behind them and now it is only three or four points."
Many people were surprised with the strength of feeling shown by the two Liverpool defenders in a game that didn't mean as much once United secured their third Premier League triumph in a row on the Saturday.
But Reina explained: "Knowing that Man United had become champions on Saturday meant that we had to give everything to try and finish second and also to be as professional as we can."
The Anfield keeper watched in horror as team-mates Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa almost came to blows after a heated exchange during the win at West Brom.
The pair have been criticised for the very public show of disharmony in the Reds camp but the Spaniard insisted they were just showing the passion needed to challenge at the top of the table.
"It showed our mentality and our motivation to win the game and not to concede a goal," said Reina.
"It is normal and it can happen on the pitch so let's forget it. We are trying our hardest to catch Manchester United and it just showed the mentality we have in trying to be the best."
Liverpool are desperately frustrated they failed to catch United despite a club record haul of points.
If they win their last match, they will finish on 86 - their biggest total ever, and will also become the only side to lose just two matches and not win the league.
Carragher's show of spirit threatened to spill over when he raged at Arbeloa for failing to get back to cover the right back position.
But Reina believes that Liverpool must continue to show that sort of desire if they are to take the final step and actually get past United and win the Premier League.
"We have already beaten the club record in terms of points but it wasn't enough," he said.
"United didn't slip at any time so we have to congratulate them and keep pushing for the next few years.
"We are really proud to be closer but we will be even prouder to win it. That's the next step.
"We are becoming a stronger team because when I first joined Liverpool we were something like 30 points behind them and now it is only three or four points."
Many people were surprised with the strength of feeling shown by the two Liverpool defenders in a game that didn't mean as much once United secured their third Premier League triumph in a row on the Saturday.
But Reina explained: "Knowing that Man United had become champions on Saturday meant that we had to give everything to try and finish second and also to be as professional as we can."
No comments:
Post a Comment