JAVIER MASCHERANO has revealed he is happy just to feel wanted again following the calamitous start to his career in England.
The Argentine made his first Premier League appearance of the season in Saturday’s 6-0 victory over Derby County after being rested by manager Rafael Benitez in the early weeks of the season.
But Mascherano insists he is prepared to wait his turn to make the starting line-up at Anfield after being frozen out of the picture completely at Upton Park when Alan Curbishley took over last November.
After making just five appearances for the Hammers before being offloaded to Anfield in the January transfer window, Mascherano became a regular in the holding midfield role and played a pivotal part in Liverpool making the Champion’s League final.
“In six months at West Ham I'd played five or six games. It was very difficult for me to even go to training every day, because I knew no matter what I would never play,” said Mascherano.
“The situation was very difficult. Then when I arrived here I still thought it was going to be very difficult for me to play, because Liverpool were one of the biggest clubs in the world and they already had Momo Sissoko, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in the midfield.
“When I got my opportunity, all I could do was try to do my best – but it was easier because I knew the people here rated me.”
The 23-year-old’s confidence in Benitez has made sitting out the first few league games more bearable this season, as the manager has either opted to go with Sissoko or ditch the holding role altogether.
Indeed, having more attacking options at their disposal has been key to Liverpool’s impressive start to the season – they head the Premier League table on goal difference after three wins and a draw, plus 11 goals, in their opening four fixtures.
And Mascherano recognises that building a title challenge, as well as the forthcoming Champions League campaign, requires the kind of squad strength that will see good players on the bench every week.
“Everybody wants to play football, but Liverpool have two players in every position,” he added. “This is needed because we have four competitions to play in and we want to win them all. If this means I have to go to the bench sometimes, that’s not important.
“What is important is that when I play, I have to play really good. The manager has to know I can do well when he needs me.”
Great read this, I think all of our players are starting to understand that they can't play every game thanks to rafas work with them.
The media don't like it and also try and bring stories out to try and unsettle our players like which has happened to crouch recently.
.... Hopefully!
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