....so far so good?!
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He has provoked more public outrage from Rafael Benítez this
season than an American performing a vanishing trick with
Liverpool’s transfer budget and yet, despite a mild and inoffensive
nature, Lucas Leiva is relishing being the centre of a furious
debate. The much-maligned Brazilian knows his opportunity to change
preconceptions has arrived, two years after his £6m transfer from
Grêmio.
The 22-year-old has been thrust into the argument over Xabi
Alonso’s sale to Real Madrid due to the fact that, in the absence
of the injured Alberto Aquilani, he is Benítez’s choice to plug the
gap in the Liverpool midfield. His response against Stoke City, and
even in defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, has been impressive.
Benítez identified Lucas as Liverpool’s best player in
pre-season and one of only three – along with José Reina and Glen
Johnson – to meet the standard required at White Hart Lane. Hence
the Spaniard’s anger at the pundits who pinpointed the departure of
Alonso and the promotion of Lucas as the reasons for that defeat.
Lucas will never be a like-for-like replacemement for Alonso, but
until Aquilani is available it is up to the Brazil international to
postpone the inquest into the merits of that transfer deal,
arguably another reason why Benítez is so protective of his
signing.
“It is a chance for me now, but we hope Alberto will be back
soon,” Lucas said. “We have a lot of games this season and we need
all of the squad fit and ready to play. I’m playing well and
training well, doing things in the right way, so now I just have to
keep going. Every time I speak to someone they always ask how I am
playing, but when the team play well it helps everyone and I’m the
same. I’m just trying to do my best for the team. I want to do well
for myself, but the first thing is to help the team win games.”
Lucas admits, however, that he has had to improve mentally this
season following a fraught start to his Anfield career. The
midfielder said: “Back in Brazil everything seemed to progress
perfectly for me. I played well, scored goals and won titles. Since
I moved to Liverpool I’ve had some difficult moments, but I think
those experiences can help me. They have made me mentally stronger.
Also, I’ve done plenty of work in pre-season, I’m better able to
cope with the physical side of the game here. I think I’ll be able
to get forward more and believe I can have a good year and help us
challenge for the title again.”
