Riera lashes out over Rafa treatment
Albert Riera has hit out at Rafa Benitez's man management skills
and revealed he may move to Russia after being left in the cold at
Liverpool.
Riera, who joined Liverpool from Espanyol in 2008, has made
just two appearances since January, both of which were in the
Europa League.
Even Liverpool's indifferent recent form, which has seen them
win just four of their last eight competitive matches, has not
persuaded Benitez to call on Riera more, and the winger admits he
is in the dark as to why that is the case.
He was quoted as saying on Radio Marca: "When the coach says
nothing to you and you are well, with no physical problems and
training well, you cannot help but think it must be something
personal.
"If I'm doing something badly and you are my boss, and you
value me, then you are going to come and tell me what I have to do
to play again. This is what hurts me.
"You see that the team are not doing well and there are no
changes. It's a little frustrating because you see that you can
help.
"I've been here two years and I know how he (Benitez) is.
He's never sorted out a situation with a player by talking with
him. He thinks he's in charge and everything else falls on deaf
ears. His dialogue with the players is practically nil," added the
27-year-old, who also likened Liverpool to a "sinking ship".
Regarding his future, Riera knows his hopes of gaining a
place in Spain's World Cup squad depends on him playing first-team
football.
"I would like to be here for the rest of my career, but
players live to play. My objective is to go to the World Cup and
for this I have to play," he said.
"Right now the only market open is the Russian one, I have
offers from two teams and, looking at my situation, that has made
me reflect a lot."