“It won’t be hard to improve because we were the worst team left in the league”.
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Benteke added that he understands there will be a different type of pressure with Liverpool compared to Villa – “here it’s the pressure to be at the top” – but remains confident he can thrive.
The former England defender will, on the pitch, wear the armband, but Aston Villa long stay Gabby Agbonlahor will be club captain, given his experience at the club.
It is the forward’s firm belief that his recovery would have occurred regardless of who was in charge of his former club.
Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s move to Villa has been stalled by the fact that the striker doesn’t want to move from his current residence in London. “It was like I had never been injured”, said Benteke.
“He came in at a good time, at a time when I was getting fit and getting better, so it was like a good time for both of us”.
“Yes”, he concluded. “That is between me and him”. It was just a question of time.
“I think we have a chance”. I think the pressure will bring the best out of me.
Liverpool fans are craving a new hero after the departure of Kop icon Steven Gerrard, and they will settle for seeing the man who gave their defences nightmares in recent years doing the same to opponents.
With Ron Vlaar’s Villa contract having expired, Clark will now seek to play a leading role under Tim Sherwood. That did not go down well either. “I spoke with him and I explained to him the situation”. “I said football has changed, football now is modern and I can adapt”. “I believe whatever level I play at I will score goals, of course”. I told him I am not afraid about it. The manager here will use me how he wants.
And that is? “That is between him and me”. Three seasons in a struggling Villa side – where he scored a hugely impressive 49 goals in 94 games – were enough for their £7m signing from Genk.
John Toshack was once told by Bill Shankly that he was “moving from Sunday school and into church” by joining Liverpool from Cardiff City and there are parallels with Benteke.
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Aston Villa manager Sherwood claimed in May that Benteke should “aim higher” than Liverpool and made the pointed comment that Brendan Rodgers’ squad provided the lowest numbers of crosses (409) in the Barclays Premier League last season.
