As a connoisseur of tactical intricacy, it was simply too good an opportunity to miss for Rafael Benitez. When pressed by the gathered media to explain whether the signing of Alberto Aquilani would mean any change in Liverpool’s playing style, the Anfield manager assumed centre stage.
With dictaphones substituting for midfielders and a table top replicating the playing field, what followed was an entertaining, in-depth demonstration of how the Italian would fit into the grand scheme.
Besides illustrating Benitez’s love of a good prop or two, it underlined the versatility of Aquilani and how his manager is already plotting on getting the best out of his £20m acquisition.
“Alberto is a player who has quality, game intelligence and can pass the ball quickly,” says Benitez. “He can play more offensive than Alonso did in the final third, and he has more accuracy in his final pass.
“He can score goals from distance too, but he can also drop back and play alongside Mascherano and Lucas because he is a hard worker.
“It could be that we use a different system a bit, depending on Alberto’s characteristics. We will have different options of how to play going forward.
“We have Mascherano and Lucas both playing really well, with Gerrard in front. He can play instead of any of them.
“He can play as second striker if necessary, but his best position will be between Gerrard and Mascherano – or between Lucas and Gerrard.”
Of course, with Aquilani still recovering from a summer ankle operation, Liverpool supporters will have to wait a while before getting a glimpse of the new arrival.
Signing a player with an injury was frowned upon by many, but Benitez has reiterated he is not taking a gamble on the Italy international.
“With the problems he has had, especially the ankle, we had to check everything,” says the Liverpool manager. “The medical staff did their job and they feel we can manage right now.
“The most important thing is the ankle, he had an operation on it, so we are working on that. But in the meantime we are working on the other things too and he can get better.
“We’ve signed players who have had problems in the past, but only because the medical staff have been confident they will be okay.
“It’s difficult to say when he will be able to play. He’s been working hard from the first day on Monday, but we think he should be back between one and two months.”
Indeed, Benitez believes being out of the spotlight will benefit Aquilani as he grapples with life at a new club in a new country.
“Maybe it can help Alberto that he won’t be thrown straight into the first team,” he says. “It’s never easy to settle down at a new club in a new country, so if he had to play straight away it would be difficult for him and people might start talking about him not being ready.
“We were playing Oldham in a friendly on Wednesday and he watched with me. We spoke about pre-season, the roles of players and he knows now. Not playing straight away will also give him a chance to improve his English, and that will make it easier.”
Aquilani, however, does not entirely share such an opinion.
“Waiting for my first game will definitely be my most difficult period,” says the 25-year-old. “My worry was this injury and the fact that I wouldn’t be able to play at first.
“But I’m doubly happy to be here because of the possibility of getting better properly. I have had a very thorough medical and the doctors have seen what the problem is.
“In Italy I had already started to work a little, but here the doctors have told me not to rush into my recovery, to get better and avoid having to stop again later on.
“It is a shame that I can’t play straight away, but I’m going to be working very hard at this in order to avoid problems in the future.”
As a boyhood Roma fan, Liverpool have already formed a significant part of Aquilani’s football education, having been brought up on tales of the European Cup final between the two clubs in 1984 – a game which took place six weeks before the midfielder was born.
And Aquilani has also been given a crash course in Anfield history by a former Roma team-mate who spent seven years at the club.
“Obviously I am a friend of John Arne Riise’s and he’s spoken a lot about Liverpool to me,” says Aquilani. “I’ve spoken to him about the Kop and the great fans and I can’t wait to start.
“I have never played at Anfield but I have heard a lot about the unique atmosphere you breathe there.
“Rafa Benitez was very important in me coming here. Riise spoke very well of him and said he could help me grow as a player.
“I was already aware and appreciated his work even before the opportunity arose to come here. I like the way the team plays and certainly it was a deciding factor.
“I’m very proud Rafa chose me. I also want to thank (Liverpool chief scout) Eduardo Macia, who was very important.”
The track record of Italians at Anfield is not great. On-loan Daniele Padelli convinced nobody during his solitary performance in goal two years ago while Andrea Dossena has struggled since arriving
Aquilani, though, is confident he can buck that particular trend and has already started to become accustomed to his new surrounds.
“I’ve had a drive around the city centre and some other areas,” he says. “Liverpool seems a comfortable city and appears to offer everything. I don’t think I’ll have a problem fitting in.”
And if Aquilani proves as adept as those dictaphones, it will be £20m well spent.
With dictaphones substituting for midfielders and a table top replicating the playing field, what followed was an entertaining, in-depth demonstration of how the Italian would fit into the grand scheme.
Besides illustrating Benitez’s love of a good prop or two, it underlined the versatility of Aquilani and how his manager is already plotting on getting the best out of his £20m acquisition.
“Alberto is a player who has quality, game intelligence and can pass the ball quickly,” says Benitez. “He can play more offensive than Alonso did in the final third, and he has more accuracy in his final pass.
“He can score goals from distance too, but he can also drop back and play alongside Mascherano and Lucas because he is a hard worker.
“It could be that we use a different system a bit, depending on Alberto’s characteristics. We will have different options of how to play going forward.
“We have Mascherano and Lucas both playing really well, with Gerrard in front. He can play instead of any of them.
“He can play as second striker if necessary, but his best position will be between Gerrard and Mascherano – or between Lucas and Gerrard.”
Of course, with Aquilani still recovering from a summer ankle operation, Liverpool supporters will have to wait a while before getting a glimpse of the new arrival.
Signing a player with an injury was frowned upon by many, but Benitez has reiterated he is not taking a gamble on the Italy international.
“With the problems he has had, especially the ankle, we had to check everything,” says the Liverpool manager. “The medical staff did their job and they feel we can manage right now.
“The most important thing is the ankle, he had an operation on it, so we are working on that. But in the meantime we are working on the other things too and he can get better.
“We’ve signed players who have had problems in the past, but only because the medical staff have been confident they will be okay.
“It’s difficult to say when he will be able to play. He’s been working hard from the first day on Monday, but we think he should be back between one and two months.”
Indeed, Benitez believes being out of the spotlight will benefit Aquilani as he grapples with life at a new club in a new country.
“Maybe it can help Alberto that he won’t be thrown straight into the first team,” he says. “It’s never easy to settle down at a new club in a new country, so if he had to play straight away it would be difficult for him and people might start talking about him not being ready.
“We were playing Oldham in a friendly on Wednesday and he watched with me. We spoke about pre-season, the roles of players and he knows now. Not playing straight away will also give him a chance to improve his English, and that will make it easier.”
Aquilani, however, does not entirely share such an opinion.
“Waiting for my first game will definitely be my most difficult period,” says the 25-year-old. “My worry was this injury and the fact that I wouldn’t be able to play at first.
“But I’m doubly happy to be here because of the possibility of getting better properly. I have had a very thorough medical and the doctors have seen what the problem is.
“In Italy I had already started to work a little, but here the doctors have told me not to rush into my recovery, to get better and avoid having to stop again later on.
“It is a shame that I can’t play straight away, but I’m going to be working very hard at this in order to avoid problems in the future.”
As a boyhood Roma fan, Liverpool have already formed a significant part of Aquilani’s football education, having been brought up on tales of the European Cup final between the two clubs in 1984 – a game which took place six weeks before the midfielder was born.
And Aquilani has also been given a crash course in Anfield history by a former Roma team-mate who spent seven years at the club.
“Obviously I am a friend of John Arne Riise’s and he’s spoken a lot about Liverpool to me,” says Aquilani. “I’ve spoken to him about the Kop and the great fans and I can’t wait to start.
“I have never played at Anfield but I have heard a lot about the unique atmosphere you breathe there.
“Rafa Benitez was very important in me coming here. Riise spoke very well of him and said he could help me grow as a player.
“I was already aware and appreciated his work even before the opportunity arose to come here. I like the way the team plays and certainly it was a deciding factor.
“I’m very proud Rafa chose me. I also want to thank (Liverpool chief scout) Eduardo Macia, who was very important.”
The track record of Italians at Anfield is not great. On-loan Daniele Padelli convinced nobody during his solitary performance in goal two years ago while Andrea Dossena has struggled since arriving
Aquilani, though, is confident he can buck that particular trend and has already started to become accustomed to his new surrounds.
“I’ve had a drive around the city centre and some other areas,” he says. “Liverpool seems a comfortable city and appears to offer everything. I don’t think I’ll have a problem fitting in.”
And if Aquilani proves as adept as those dictaphones, it will be £20m well spent.
