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Benitez: "Babel is more than supersub"
Chris Beesley
Liverpool
Daily Post
Wednesday 01 October 2008
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez
insists that Ryan Babel can be more than just a ‘supersub’
for his side and has challenged the Dutch international
to earn himself a regular starting place in his side.
Babel was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 2-0
derby victory over Everton at Goodison Park but four
of his six appearances so far this season since coming
back from the Olympic Games – including when he
struck the winner against Manchester United – have
been after coming off the bench.
The 21-year-old has netted eight times as a substitute
since arriving from Ajax in 2007 and is closing in on
David Fairclough’s club record of 18 goals from
the bench.
However, Benitez is now expecting Babel to push for
a place in the starting line-up.
He said: “Our view of Ryan is a player who starts
games and has an impact from the beginning, not just
as a sub.
“But first of all he has to improve tactically
and we are working with him on that.
“He is the kind of player who can change games
and he has done that when coming from the bench.
“Now we want him to start games and change them.”
Babel could come face to face with a familiar foe when
Liverpool face PSV Eindhoven tomorrow night and he’ll
do so with a ringing endorsement from Benitez.
The player knows all about Huub Stevens’s side
from his Ajax days, when both teams fought it out at
the top of the Eredivisie and he scored the winning
goals against them in the 2005 Dutch Super Cup.
Having completed his first season in the Premier League,
Babel’s progress has impressed Benitez who reckons
that the great differences in style between England
and the Netherlands can make it difficult for players
to adapt.
He said: “You need to remember that Dutch players
coming to England with great quality have always needed
time.
“Robin van Persie was like that and Dennis Bergkamp
also needed time. The leagues are totally different.
“The Dutch league is very technical and you have
two or three teams that are very good.
“Every game is about getting the ball, keeping
the ball and playing nice football.
“Here it is harder, though Babel has played some
fantastic games for us.
“So we still have a lot of confidence he can progress,
but now he has to work hard on defence and learn how
to challenge players.
“He has done well as an impact player, which is
not easy when you are young, but we think he can do
more than that for us.”
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