Rafa Benitez insists he is happy with Liverpool’s pre-season build-up, despite a winless start to their summer program.
The Reds arrived in Singapore for the second leg of their Far East tour yesterday following their 1-1 draw with Thailand in Bangkok.
Previously they were held 0-0 by St Gallen and lost 1-0 to Rapid Vienna, but Benitez has urged fans not to read too much into those results.
“I think our pre-season is going well,” he said.
“It is very difficult when you have a lot of players away who come back much later.
“For example Fernando Torres and the rest of the Spanish players have trained for only three days.
“On Wednesday he played 10 minutes and was very good, but after three days training I wasn’t expecting a performance like that.
“It’s impossible to make any judgments when players have only trained for a few days.
“We have to analyze the team after maybe two more weeks.”
The Reds were set to train twice today as they stepped up their preparations for Sunday’s clash with the Singapore national team.
“For us to be here is a great experience,” Benitez added.
“For the club it’s a great opportunity and we have to approach it in a positive way.
“Hopefully we won’t have any more injuries and we will be able to train properly.”
The club denied speculation that a fee had been agreed with Real Madrid for Xabi Alonso and Benitez once again refused to comment on the midfielder’s future. Alonso missed the game against Thailand with an ankle injury.
Benitez hit back at reports Javier Mascherano’s agent had said the Argentine was keen to quit the Reds.
“Like I said before, Alonso will enjoy the weather, the fans and the journalists,” Benitez said. “If he is ready by Sunday then he will play.
“As for Mascherano, you have a big problem now in the press.
“There are too many websites, too many newspapers, too many radio and TV stations who have to compete every day.
“It seems sometimes you read news that is 15 days out of date.”
Martin Skrtel and Nabil El Zhar were due to arrive back in Liverpool today after injury cut short their stay in the Far East.
Skrtel suffered a hamstring problem against Thailand and El Zhar damaged knee ligaments.
Both will undergo scans at Melwood in order to reveal the extent of the damage.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid sporting director Miguel Pardeza revealed the Alonso deal is in limbo, but he still hopes to buy full-back Alvaro Arbeloa.
“From day one, Liverpool have asked for more than Madrid are ready to pay (for Alonso) and it’s very difficult to understand,” he said.
“But I’ve not lost hope that things can be resolved.
“With Arbeloa there was an option which, at the moment, has come to nothing.”
The Reds arrived in Singapore for the second leg of their Far East tour yesterday following their 1-1 draw with Thailand in Bangkok.
Previously they were held 0-0 by St Gallen and lost 1-0 to Rapid Vienna, but Benitez has urged fans not to read too much into those results.
“I think our pre-season is going well,” he said.
“It is very difficult when you have a lot of players away who come back much later.
“For example Fernando Torres and the rest of the Spanish players have trained for only three days.
“On Wednesday he played 10 minutes and was very good, but after three days training I wasn’t expecting a performance like that.
“It’s impossible to make any judgments when players have only trained for a few days.
“We have to analyze the team after maybe two more weeks.”
The Reds were set to train twice today as they stepped up their preparations for Sunday’s clash with the Singapore national team.
“For us to be here is a great experience,” Benitez added.
“For the club it’s a great opportunity and we have to approach it in a positive way.
“Hopefully we won’t have any more injuries and we will be able to train properly.”
The club denied speculation that a fee had been agreed with Real Madrid for Xabi Alonso and Benitez once again refused to comment on the midfielder’s future. Alonso missed the game against Thailand with an ankle injury.
Benitez hit back at reports Javier Mascherano’s agent had said the Argentine was keen to quit the Reds.
“Like I said before, Alonso will enjoy the weather, the fans and the journalists,” Benitez said. “If he is ready by Sunday then he will play.
“As for Mascherano, you have a big problem now in the press.
“There are too many websites, too many newspapers, too many radio and TV stations who have to compete every day.
“It seems sometimes you read news that is 15 days out of date.”
Martin Skrtel and Nabil El Zhar were due to arrive back in Liverpool today after injury cut short their stay in the Far East.
Skrtel suffered a hamstring problem against Thailand and El Zhar damaged knee ligaments.
Both will undergo scans at Melwood in order to reveal the extent of the damage.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid sporting director Miguel Pardeza revealed the Alonso deal is in limbo, but he still hopes to buy full-back Alvaro Arbeloa.
“From day one, Liverpool have asked for more than Madrid are ready to pay (for Alonso) and it’s very difficult to understand,” he said.
“But I’ve not lost hope that things can be resolved.
“With Arbeloa there was an option which, at the moment, has come to nothing.”
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