Benitez says pressure led to Keane’s demise

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez has denied that mismanagement of Robbie Keane led to the striker’s departure from the club.

Robbie Keane left Liverpool last week, returning to his former club Tottenham after an unsuccessful stint at Anfield. Keane scored 7 goals in his 28 appearances, but was under considerable pressure to score more freely.

Benitez has told reporters that Keane had all the support he needed from the club, and that it was ultimately the demand to perform consistently at the highest level that resulted in his dissatisfaction with the club.

“When we signed him, I thought he could be a fantastic partner for Fernando Torres,” Benitez told Sky Sports. “And if Torres was injured, we could rely on Robbie. I thought he could guarantee goals, but that clearly wasn’t the case.”

“Another factor is that Liverpool are a different club from most. Expectations are really high, people are asking questions every week and the pressure is on all the time. Maybe that was why he found it so difficult. “