Liverpool fans aren’t the only ones excited to have Christian Benteke on their team. Benteke’s teammates are feeling a similar buzz.
Liverpool quartet James Milner, Lucas Leiva, Simon Mignolet and Divock Origi spoke to various media outlets Thursday less than 24 hours after Benteke completed his transfer from Aston Villa to the Reds. They all hailed Benteke’s well-rounded game and gushed with excitement about playing with him, as Mignolet and Origi already do on Belgium’s national team, and not against him, as Milner and Lucas can attest.
The gradual Belgianization of Liverpool started when Mignolet joined the Reds in 2013. Mignolet told the club website Benteke will increase Liverpool’s popularity in Belgium.
“I think I’ve been a good example! I was the first one and now we’re three,” Mignolet said, according to LiverpoolFC.com. “If we all play (in the same XI) it means Liverpool is one-quarter Belgian.
“I’m very happy. The Belgian connection is there now and it will be nice for the people in Belgium to follow LFC.
Mignolet revealed what impact he expects Benteke to have on Liverpool’s attack.
“He will work hard in training,” Mignolet continued. “He’s got the physical presence, the ability to hold the ball up front and play with his back to goal.
“He will make sure that all the other players we’ve got connect with him, and when he keeps that ball make sure that we can be dangerous on the counter-attack.”
Origi is another of Benteke’s Belgium and Liverpool teammates. Benteke’s arrival will limit Origi’s chances to play, at least initially, but the 20-year-old striker nevertheless is thrilled to carry their competition for playing time from international to club level.
“(He’s) a wonderful signing, I think,” Origi told Liverpoolfc.com. “I’m happy for him and also for us that he’s part of the team.
“I think everybody knows his strengths. He’s very strong, very big, good in the air, he has good feet, he can score. He’s the modern striker and it’s a very good signing.”
Milner and Lucas only have faced Benteke as opponents. They spoke to Sky Sports about their relief at finally having the towering Benteke on their side.
“I’d rather play with him to be honest,” Milner said. “He’s a pretty complete striker. He’s got strength and pace, can score with his feet, his head and he’s a handful. He’s proved that he can score goals in the Premier League.
“We have experience of playing against him and it was always so hard,” Lucas added. “He’s a strong player and can play football as well.”
Benteke won’t practice with all of his new teammates until next week when Liverpool returns home from its preseason Tour. It’s safe to say Benteke won’t have a problem fitting in with his new teammates, especially those who are thankful to play with, instead of against, him.
Thumbnail photo via LiverpoolFC.com
