Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has rejected former manager Tim Sherwood’s claim that he can score goals only if he plays for a team that gets crosses into the box.
The Belgium international rediscovered his touch soon after Sherwood took over at Aston Villa from Paul Lambert, scoring 12 goals in 13 league games, and ignited the interest of Liverpool, who bought him for a reported £32.5 million (Dh185.2m) in the summer.
Sherwood did his best to keep Benteke at Villa after Liverpool made their interest known and the manager even said, “there’s no point going to a club where they don’t cross the ball”.
Benteke said those comments led to a showdown with Sherwood.
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“I don’t believe that and I told him — I spoke with him and I explained to him the situation,” Benteke said. “I said football has changed and football now is modern and I can adapt.
“It is not just about crossing, I can score normal goals, too. I told him I am not afraid about it.”
Benteke, who ruptured his Achilles tendon before the start of last season and missed the World Cup, feels the Villa manager was given too much credit for his return to form in the latter half of last season.
It was more about his regaining full fitness, Benteke said.
Sherwood “came in at a good time, at a time when I was getting fit and getting better, so it was a good time for both of us,” Benteke said.
“The right time for him and for me. OK, he helped me a lot but I had been injured for a long time and I was getting back to what I could do. It was just a question of time.”
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