Striker reiterates desire to fight for Anfield career
Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has reiterated his desire to stay at the club and fight for his career.
The Belgian international has struggled to settle in at Anfield, and has already been tipped with a move away from the club with the Chinese Super League reportedly offering him a lucrative contract.
Benteke ended a two-month goal drought on Sunday when he netted a 94th-minute penalty against Crystal Palace, and although he’s been linked with a move away from the club, he’s revealed his desire to stay and fight for his place.
The striker completed a £32.4million move from Aston Villa over the summer, but has struggled to break into the first-team since Jurgen Klopp has arrived.
Klopp has often gone with Roberto Firmino up front as a lone-striker, leaving Benteke on the bench, but despite that, he’s adamant his future is in Merseyside.
Benteke Eyes Stay
“In my mind I was never thinking about a move. I didn’t want to leave,” the 25-year-old said.
“I’ve still enough ambition and enough character to fight in difficult moments. I don’t give up easily. I fight until the end.
“It’s not the easiest of situations, but you have to be ready. It’s in the most difficult situations that the real warriors, the tough men and determined guys stand-up.
“In a career you’ll have top moments, also your difficult times. You have to be up for it. I have to take every chance, every minute the manager gives me.
“One minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, half an hour. Divock Origi had been working hard on Sunday. So it was a bit easier to come on.
“Of course it frustrates me, but that’s football. On Sunday there were eight international players out of the 11.
“So I’m not competing against ‘n’importe qui’, nobodies. I just have to accept the competition.”
Benteke then spoke about Divock Origi being chosen over him on Saturday, and he was keen to stress he will continue to work hard in order to get a starting spot.
“That’s the manager’s choice,” Benteke added. “Maybe, he needs Divock more than me now, maybe he needs me at other moments – I don’t know, maybe Daniel Sturridge.
“I haven’t talked with the manager to ask him why I’m not playing. I just wait for my chance.
“I’m feeling good. I’m working very hard at the training pitch, just to be ready when the manager needs me.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
