Morientes can show his true potential
Aug 12 2005
By David Prior Daily Post Staff
XABI ALONSO has hailed the Champions League resurgence of Fernando Morientes - and believes his compatriot can now go on to realise his potential at Anfield.
Morientes responded to the growing doubts surrounding his long-term future at Liverpool by enjoying perhaps his finest game for the club in Wednesday night's third-round first-leg win over CSKA Sofia.
The 29-year-old, who was yesterday recalled to the Spanish national side, scored twice and could have had at least two more in a clinical display that met the challenge laid down to him pre-match by manager Rafael Benitez.
And fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso praised the frontman for working his way out of his lull in form, which had seen him claim just three goals in 17 games since moving from Real Madrid in January.
He said: "Always when you are at a big club and you are a striker, if you do not score then you will have to accept that there will be criticism. But he has trained hard, he was very focused for this game and we are all pleased for him that he has scored important goals.
"He has been the top scorer in the Champions League in previous seasons and I know it is now an ambition for him to play well for Liverpool in the Champions League and help the club to more success in Europe. He has also always scored many goals for Spain, so he has that level of experience and certainly the goals he has scored for Liverpool this week will be a big boost for him.
"He has scored goals wherever he has been, that is not in doubt, so I now hope and believe that he will do the same here."
Another of Anfield's Spanish contingent, Luis Garcia, added support to Alonso's view. "He will continue to score," added the midfielder, "and we will then hopefully continue to improve as a team to compete for the title."
Morientes's return to scoring form, added to a strike from Djibril Cisse, has almost buttured Liverpool of their place in the group stages.
And Garcia said: "The whole team played well and after the two quick goals we were in control for all but that minute before the break when they pulled one back."
Meanwhile, chief executive Rick Parry has aired his frustration at the Home Office decision to refuse winger Mark Gonzalez a work permit.
The Chile international was set to join the European champions on a one-year loan deal from Albacete until the move was blocked by Government regulations.
Gonzalez would have been unable to play immediately because of injury anyway, so Liverpool have decided to put their pursuit of the 21-year-old on hold.
Parry said: "Our chase to sign Mark Gonzalez is over for the time being. We were surprised when our application for a work permit was turned down.
"It's a frustrating state of affairs because Rafael Benitez was really looking forward to working with the player.
"Rafa's knowledge of the Spanish scene immediately encouraged him to move for a man who would have been an important addition to our squad.
"To secure a work permit you have to demonstrate that the individual will make a significant contribution to the development of the game in this country.
"It's slightly illogical that a panel can sit and judge the capability of someone in a negative way when a manager as thorough as Rafael Benitez has clearly indicated that the player is definitely going to play a part in a crucial season."
Parry admits he was disappointed the club's hopes of signing Luis Figo came to nothing.
He added: "We thought we were in with a shout for Figo, but the longer it goes on the more cynical you become. Towards the end Rafa probably started to have doubts as to whether Figo's interest in joining us was real or not."
Meanwhile, reports last night suggested Milan Baros was in Birmingham to tie up a move to Aston Villa. The £6million-rated striker has been linked with a move to the Midlands since his proposed transfer to Schalke 04 broke down last month
