RAFA STICKS UP FOR HIS PACY PENNANT

Pennant gets Rafa's backing

Stories circulating suggest that Jermaine Pennant is finding it hard to live up to his Anfield price tag and that the winger is undergoing a real crisis of confidence. Step forward Rafa Benitez to give the player some much needed support.

The winger is due to play tomorrow for the first time against old club Birmingham City and Rafa had this to say about the player, and his £7 million price tag.

"Sometimes when you are looking for a player you really need, then you have to pay a little bit more than you wanted to do."

"I do not know many right wingers in this country who are better than Pennant playing in the Premier. Who else, Wright-Phillips at £21 million?

"For us it was a decision we needed to make because we needed a specialist for a certain position.

"It is clear he was one of the first choices. I was not thinking too much about the price, only the player and what we wanted.

"We knew we needed to spend money in that position. You could talk about other candidates, but there were not many, and anyone cheaper would not have been as good as Jermaine. And Birmingham knew that."

Rafa expects the player to get a mixed reception from the Birmingham fans:

"I hope the Birmingham fans will understand what a good player Jermaine was for their club and that we paid them very good money for him."

"It was good business for both clubs. Maybe they will not be cheering him, but I feel they will appreciate the business and what happened.

"When we decided to sign Jermaine it is because we were looking for a right winger with the right requirements for the job at the top level.

"We needed to see pace and the ability to cross the ball and beat opponents. He was one of the best players in The Premiership for that last season.

"He has a lot of quality and with Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt now in the middle, he gives us greater possibilities and options when we are attacking.

"He is learning, and the understanding with his colleagues is improving."

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