Liverpool star questions Benitez

By European Football
September 5 2005

Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse has questioned manager Rafael Benitez man management skills when it was revealed that Liverpool had tried to offload the striker to Newcastle and Marseille during the transfer window:

"I heard Liverpool were in talks with other clubs behind my back - and that hurts," he told the News of the World.

He also criticised the manager’s choice of where he plays:

"Everyone knows that being on the right is not where I want to play," said Cisse, who scored twice in France's 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over the Faroe Islands on Saturday.

”I can't help but wonder about the club's attitude, but I'm prepared to put my head down and keep battling.

"It's not my best position but the manager puts me there. I'm prepared to do it for the good of the club but it's difficult.

"It's a World Cup year and I need to win a place in the French side. At the moment that dream is under threat.

"I'm not like Michael Owen at Newcastle - I'm not guaranteed my place. I've spoken to my international manager and he told me I need to play as much as possible.

"He said I should go where I want as long as I am playing regularly.

"I ask myself, can I be happy only playing every other game? I can't help but wonder about the club's attitude towards me, but I'm prepared to put my head down and keep battling."