Fabio Aurelio could have been forgiven for feeling a bit threatened by the return to Liverpool’s starting line-up of the young pretender to his left-back throne.
The Brazilian defender made way for Emiliano Insua in Tuesday night’s home win over Middlesbrough but rather than feeling put out by Rafa Benitez’s decision to choose youth over experience, Aurelio was delighted to see the 20-year-old back in action in a Liverpool shirt.
“Every time that Emiliano has been given an opportunity he has shown his quality and the other night was no different,” said Aurelio.
“That is good for him as an individual but it is also good for the team because it means we have another player who is getting involved and this makes the squad stronger and gives the manager more options.
“When you are at a big club like Liverpool you always know that you will have to compete for your place but when it comes down to it we are all competing for the good of the team.
“We all work harder to help the team and competing for your place is just one part of that.
“We work together and in the case of Emiliano and myself we both just want what is best for the team.”
Having missed the previous ten Liverpool games through his involvement with the Argentinian national team at the under-20 World Cup, Insua slotted seamlessly back into Benitez’s starting lineup against Boro.
In doing so, he jumped ahead of £7m man Andrea Dossena in the pecking order and his latest impressive performance will have served to underline the growing belief that he could provide a long term solution to a position that has been a problem at Anfield for far too long.
But for the time being, the former Boca Juniors youngster is just happy to be back in the fold with Liverpool having endured a difficult tournament with Argentina out in Venezuela where his national team failed to qualify for the finals for the first time in 16 years.
Insua’s disappointment was made all the more pronounced because not only was he captain of the side, he was also sent off during the 1-0 defeat to Colombia which ended Argentina’s hopes.
“It was not a good experience for me because we did not qualify for the next stage,” said Insua.
“Obviously we had wanted to do better than this but unfortunately things did not work out as we had hoped.
“I had to be there which meant I had to miss games for Liverpool but this is in the past now and I have to put it behind me and just focus on Liverpool and the games that we have to come.
“We have ten games left in the Premier League so hopefully I will be able to play in as many of these matches as possible.
“While I was away I was able to keep an eye on Liverpool’s results but it is not the same as being there and being involved in the squad. But now I can look forward to the games to come.”
Unfortunately for Insua he will not be able to feature in Liverpool’s next game - against Real Madrid.
Having not been registered with UEFA on Liverpool’s Champions League squad he will have to sit this one out but with a Premier League clash with Manchester United to come the defender is not too downhearted.
He said: “I cannot play in the Champions League against Real Madrid so this means I must keep on working hard in training and look forward to our next game.
“I am very excited at the thought of playing against Man United. I do not know whether I will be in the team or not but I have to keep giving everything I can in training and if I can play it will be very good for me.
“I can remember watching matches between Liverpool and United when I was young in Argentina.
“It is a match which is watched all around the world. It is a massive game for anyone to play in and now I have a chance to be involved so I have to keep my focus and hope that I can be in the team.”
Having tasted victory upon his return to the Liverpool side, Insua is now looking for a positive end to the season both for himself and the team.
But he knows the hard work is only just beginning as he attempts to nail down the left back spot with Aurelio in particular staking his own strong claims for that position in the team.
“I’m really happy that I was picked to play in the team against Middlesbrough because I know that we have other good left backs at Liverpool,” added Aurelio.
“But I know that I must keep on going and trying to give everything in every game because there is so much competition for places at a club like Liverpool.
“It was really good for me to be back in the team and I enjoyed it a lot because we won in front of our fans.
“We played quite well and the important thing for all of us now is to try to keep on going and to keep our level up so that we can keep on picking up points.”
The Brazilian defender made way for Emiliano Insua in Tuesday night’s home win over Middlesbrough but rather than feeling put out by Rafa Benitez’s decision to choose youth over experience, Aurelio was delighted to see the 20-year-old back in action in a Liverpool shirt.
“Every time that Emiliano has been given an opportunity he has shown his quality and the other night was no different,” said Aurelio.
“That is good for him as an individual but it is also good for the team because it means we have another player who is getting involved and this makes the squad stronger and gives the manager more options.
“When you are at a big club like Liverpool you always know that you will have to compete for your place but when it comes down to it we are all competing for the good of the team.
“We all work harder to help the team and competing for your place is just one part of that.
“We work together and in the case of Emiliano and myself we both just want what is best for the team.”
Having missed the previous ten Liverpool games through his involvement with the Argentinian national team at the under-20 World Cup, Insua slotted seamlessly back into Benitez’s starting lineup against Boro.
In doing so, he jumped ahead of £7m man Andrea Dossena in the pecking order and his latest impressive performance will have served to underline the growing belief that he could provide a long term solution to a position that has been a problem at Anfield for far too long.
But for the time being, the former Boca Juniors youngster is just happy to be back in the fold with Liverpool having endured a difficult tournament with Argentina out in Venezuela where his national team failed to qualify for the finals for the first time in 16 years.
Insua’s disappointment was made all the more pronounced because not only was he captain of the side, he was also sent off during the 1-0 defeat to Colombia which ended Argentina’s hopes.
“It was not a good experience for me because we did not qualify for the next stage,” said Insua.
“Obviously we had wanted to do better than this but unfortunately things did not work out as we had hoped.
“I had to be there which meant I had to miss games for Liverpool but this is in the past now and I have to put it behind me and just focus on Liverpool and the games that we have to come.
“We have ten games left in the Premier League so hopefully I will be able to play in as many of these matches as possible.
“While I was away I was able to keep an eye on Liverpool’s results but it is not the same as being there and being involved in the squad. But now I can look forward to the games to come.”
Unfortunately for Insua he will not be able to feature in Liverpool’s next game - against Real Madrid.
Having not been registered with UEFA on Liverpool’s Champions League squad he will have to sit this one out but with a Premier League clash with Manchester United to come the defender is not too downhearted.
He said: “I cannot play in the Champions League against Real Madrid so this means I must keep on working hard in training and look forward to our next game.
“I am very excited at the thought of playing against Man United. I do not know whether I will be in the team or not but I have to keep giving everything I can in training and if I can play it will be very good for me.
“I can remember watching matches between Liverpool and United when I was young in Argentina.
“It is a match which is watched all around the world. It is a massive game for anyone to play in and now I have a chance to be involved so I have to keep my focus and hope that I can be in the team.”
Having tasted victory upon his return to the Liverpool side, Insua is now looking for a positive end to the season both for himself and the team.
But he knows the hard work is only just beginning as he attempts to nail down the left back spot with Aurelio in particular staking his own strong claims for that position in the team.
“I’m really happy that I was picked to play in the team against Middlesbrough because I know that we have other good left backs at Liverpool,” added Aurelio.
“But I know that I must keep on going and trying to give everything in every game because there is so much competition for places at a club like Liverpool.
“It was really good for me to be back in the team and I enjoyed it a lot because we won in front of our fans.
“We played quite well and the important thing for all of us now is to try to keep on going and to keep our level up so that we can keep on picking up points.”
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