Owen may quit madrid
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 6:42 amSorry to start another Owen thread, but if he does quit will Benitez take him back?
MICHAEL OWEN admits he might have to quit Real Madrid if he continues to be left on the bench.
The England striker has started just ONE game — in which he was substituted — has NOT scored and has FAILED to play a single minute in the Champions League.
He is desperate to be a hit at the Bernabeu following his £8million move from Liverpool.
But just two months into his career in Spain, Owen insists he will have no choice but to reconsider his future if he fails to land a starting spot.
And that could trigger a premature end to his stay at the Spanish giants.
Owen, 24, said: “Obviously, I don’t want to continue not playing games. I don’t have a crystal ball and I don’t know when I’ll play.
“I live with it. I’m the person who goes to sleep thinking about things all the time.
“I’d be a bit worried if it continued right the way through the season and then I’d have to ask questions about myself.”
Owen admits it is inevitable his form will suffer the longer he remains in the shadows at Real.
And that could ultimately cost him his England place with Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe threatening to leave boss Sven Goran Eriksson with no choice but to drop Owen.
He added: “It’s only the start of the season. At the moment I am happy and I’m sure I’ll play a bit more.
“I agree that it’s difficult to not play and then be called upon for one game or 10 minutes.
“If it continued, then it might be a bit more difficult and I might have a few more problems. But I hope we don’t have to cross that bridge.”
But the striker made it clear he is prepared to wait for his chance as he tries to break up the first-choice partnership of Raul and Ronaldo.
He said: “I’m not looking at anyone for favours — it’s in my own hands. Sometimes in life you’ve got to be patient and I never signed for this club thinking I was going to be in the starting line-up from the start.
“We are only a few games into the season and there’s a long way to go and a lot of time left for me to play well and state my case.
“Every time I’ve played I’ve been reasonably happy with my performances.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t had many chances lately but that’s football and I’m sure I’ll get a chance in the coming weeks. Then it’s down to me.”
Owen could find out exactly where he figures in new boss Garcia Remon’s plans against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday night as Ronaldo is struggling with a thigh strain.
If Remon picks Fernando Morientes or Guti ahead of Owen, then it may not be long before his frustration is stretched to breaking point.
But Owen insists he has the mental strength to come through the crisis threatening to sabotage his career.
He said: “I still know that it will all work out for me. I’ve enjoyed my time so far, even if it’s a tough period.
“But I’ve no doubt I’ll come through. I’ve been through tougher periods in my career and I’ve come through it.”
But Owen confesses he is finding it hard to adjust to being just another player at Real.
Owen was the undisputed king of the Kop during his Liverpool career as he hit 158 goals in 297 games.
But the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham and No 1 fan-favourite Raul all command greater status at the Bernabeu.
Owen said: “At Liverpool, I was first choice, played every week and what Raul is to the Real Madrid supporters I was to the Liverpool supporters.”
But Owen admits he is desperate to move into his own home in Madrid after two months in a hotel.
He added: “I’m still trying to nail down a house which is very important. That’s the only difficult part — finding a house and living in a hotel with a young child, it’s not easy.”
MICHAEL OWEN admits he might have to quit Real Madrid if he continues to be left on the bench.
The England striker has started just ONE game — in which he was substituted — has NOT scored and has FAILED to play a single minute in the Champions League.
He is desperate to be a hit at the Bernabeu following his £8million move from Liverpool.
But just two months into his career in Spain, Owen insists he will have no choice but to reconsider his future if he fails to land a starting spot.
And that could trigger a premature end to his stay at the Spanish giants.
Owen, 24, said: “Obviously, I don’t want to continue not playing games. I don’t have a crystal ball and I don’t know when I’ll play.
“I live with it. I’m the person who goes to sleep thinking about things all the time.
“I’d be a bit worried if it continued right the way through the season and then I’d have to ask questions about myself.”
Owen admits it is inevitable his form will suffer the longer he remains in the shadows at Real.
And that could ultimately cost him his England place with Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe threatening to leave boss Sven Goran Eriksson with no choice but to drop Owen.
He added: “It’s only the start of the season. At the moment I am happy and I’m sure I’ll play a bit more.
“I agree that it’s difficult to not play and then be called upon for one game or 10 minutes.
“If it continued, then it might be a bit more difficult and I might have a few more problems. But I hope we don’t have to cross that bridge.”
But the striker made it clear he is prepared to wait for his chance as he tries to break up the first-choice partnership of Raul and Ronaldo.
He said: “I’m not looking at anyone for favours — it’s in my own hands. Sometimes in life you’ve got to be patient and I never signed for this club thinking I was going to be in the starting line-up from the start.
“We are only a few games into the season and there’s a long way to go and a lot of time left for me to play well and state my case.
“Every time I’ve played I’ve been reasonably happy with my performances.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t had many chances lately but that’s football and I’m sure I’ll get a chance in the coming weeks. Then it’s down to me.”
Owen could find out exactly where he figures in new boss Garcia Remon’s plans against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday night as Ronaldo is struggling with a thigh strain.
If Remon picks Fernando Morientes or Guti ahead of Owen, then it may not be long before his frustration is stretched to breaking point.
But Owen insists he has the mental strength to come through the crisis threatening to sabotage his career.
He said: “I still know that it will all work out for me. I’ve enjoyed my time so far, even if it’s a tough period.
“But I’ve no doubt I’ll come through. I’ve been through tougher periods in my career and I’ve come through it.”
But Owen confesses he is finding it hard to adjust to being just another player at Real.
Owen was the undisputed king of the Kop during his Liverpool career as he hit 158 goals in 297 games.
But the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham and No 1 fan-favourite Raul all command greater status at the Bernabeu.
Owen said: “At Liverpool, I was first choice, played every week and what Raul is to the Real Madrid supporters I was to the Liverpool supporters.”
But Owen admits he is desperate to move into his own home in Madrid after two months in a hotel.
He added: “I’m still trying to nail down a house which is very important. That’s the only difficult part — finding a house and living in a hotel with a young child, it’s not easy.”
