Benitez defends ‘necessary gambles’ on transfer market

Nobody doubts his tactical qualities but Rafael Benitez has been criticised over his transfer policy. The Spanish coach signed a lot of players who couldn’t reach the high level at Anfield but ,according to Benitez, he was forced to gamble now and then.

“When we have spent big, normally it’s been very good business,” he said. “Examples are Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso.”

“Robbie Keane is a good player but we had to sell him because he was not playing at the level we knew he could play. Ryan Babel was signed for the future and we are waiting for his improvement. He has to be more consistent.”

“We can only buy one or two big, €22.5 million players a year,” Benitez added. “With the fringe players, we needed to take a gamble on Bosmans and one, two million-euros players. Some of these players have not been good enough for us.

“It is a risk you have to accept when there is not too much money about.”

Benitez defended the signing of midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who joined the Reds from Roma for €20 million this summer but is only now reaching fitness after injury problems.

“Aquilani fit would be €22.5-33.5 million. We checked with doctors and they said he would be out one, maybe two months. We have lost some time, but I signed the player for five years, not five weeks.”