Reina: It's more like boxing in the area

Reina: It's more like boxing in the area

Mar 24 2006

By Ian Doyle, Daily Post

PEPE REINA believes English football is too physical - and has likened the penalty area to a boxing ring.

The Liverpool goalkeeper's shut-out in the 7-0 FA Cup quarter-final romp at Birmingham City was his 26th clean sheet of an impressive debut campaign.

But as he prepares for his first Anfield derby against Everton tomorrow, the £6million summer signing from Villarreal has spoken of the difficulties of moving from the Spanish La Liga to the Premiership.

And Reina admits the physical nature of the forwards and the leniency of the officials is something with which he has yet to become fully accustomed.

"In England, the game is more physical than in Spain and the referees are not the same," said Reina.

"It's too physical. Sometimes, the penalty area is like a boxing ring. I'm not joking, some of the strikers are built like boxers and play like them but without the gloves!

clear and make sure the ball is away from our goal as quickly as possible."

Of his own season so far, Reina added: "It's gone well, I won't deny that, but there's still a lot of room for improvement from both myself and also the team in general.

"I'll be a lot happier when we're first in the Premiership but hopefully that will come.

"I haven't been counting the number of clean sheets I've kept but, to be honest, I would never try to claim that I was the sole reason for any clean sheet that Liverpool have managed this season.

"If we don't concede a goal, it's all down to teamwork and in some of the games, I haven't had anything to do."

Liverpool will find out the opposition and venue for their FA Cup semi-final this afternoon when the draw is made at 12.55pm.

Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Martin Jol yesterday stated the Londoners did not bid for Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse in January and will not be bidding for him in the summer.

Cisse's agent said earlier this week Tottenham had contacted him with a view to signing his client on the last day of the winter transfer window. But Jol said: "I can be honest about it. Everybody knows we were looking to get someone in on loan last January.

"All the names were there, we have lists. Somebody will have mentioned him. But nothing come of all the other players on the list and I made a decision we would be fine with Mido, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe. It has turned out to be fine. But as for Cisse for next season - there is no truth in it."