Reunited: Jermaine Pennant with former Liverpool team-mate
Peter Crouch
Jermaine Pennant claims Rafael Benitez bombed him out
of Liverpool because
he is English.
Pennant launched an astonishing blast at Benitez as he prepared
to make his debut for new club Portsmouth in
the FA Cup clash with Championship Swansea.
The former England under 21 international believes Liverpool's
Spanish boss will risk the Merseysiders' title hopes on dodgy
foreigners rather than trust home grown talent.
Winger Pennant has joined Pompey on loan until the end of the
season after being told by Benitez that his Anfield career was
over.
Pennant started only two matches for Liverpool this season
before being frozen out of Benitez's plans. Pennant said: 'I am
looking forward to Tony Adams speaking English. I don't know if it
is the English mentality he dislikes but there are not a lot of
English players at Liverpool.
"I have mentioned that before when I was at Arsenal so I guess I
have not had much luck with foreign managers.
'Last season I played 34 games and in a Champions' League final
the previous year for Rafa but now he has had a change of
plans.
'It is not for me to question the manager because he has done so
well for Liverpool but it seems very strange to go from playing
every week to training on my own on Saturday afternoons. 'But that
is Rafa for you and I don't think half the players at Liverpool can
work him out.
'I have been speaking to a lot of the other Liverpool players
and they could not understand why I was not being selected,
especially in the games at home where they have struggled to win.
'It was the same with Peter Crouch and he had to get away too.
'I spoke to Crouchy a lot before I came here and he told me to
join Portsmouth. He said it was a good club and that Tony would
give me more chances to play.'
Pennant has the option of a permanent move to Fratton Park at
the end of his loan but admitted he could yet join AC Milan or Real
Madrid.
He added: 'It is weird that I cannot get into Liverpool's team
but Real Madrid want me. 'It is very flattering to be linked with a
club of their size because they are one of the best teams in the
world.