Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes chaos surrounds the club following the ownership problems.
A takeover bid by New England Sports Ventures has spred “chaos” according to the Spaniard, as the World Cup winner insists that this matter is distracting the players who are hoping for an early resolution to this conflict.
NESV, who are also owners of The Boston Red Sox, agreed to buy the Mersey side club for £300 million, but current club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are not letting the deal take place so easily, as they attempt to take this to London’s High Court in a case starting on Tuesday.
Apart from the problems off the pitch, the team find themselves in the relegation zone, ad struggling to cope with the outside interference.
Reina, speaking outside the World Cup winners’ base in Madrid, said that although these problems are affecting the team, they are not 100% behind the failures on the pitch.
“The only thing we can do is play football and the things that are going on around the club, the ownership situation and all that, is out of our hands,” the 28-year-old said, adding that he had not yet had any communication with NESV officials.
“It’s still too soon to talk about the takeover because there is still some chaos down there.
“I am worried. I am worried because of the situation of the club but I am optimistic and I think we are going to bounce back and be our best in a few months. At least that’s what I hope.”
If Hicks and Gillet succeed in blocking the sale, Liverpool could go into administration, which would see the team drop 9 points in the league, which is the last thing they need.
“It would be a tough setback and a very difficult situation but I am optimistic that everything will be sorted out before that,” he added, speaking in fluent English.
“All that we can do now is hope and pray for a good finish and a very good ending.
“We could do nothing (so far) apart from winning games and that hasn’t been the case unfortunately.”
Reina insists that the team is tough enough to resist relegation.
“The team is good enough to start winning games. It’s a difficult situation but we have to stick together and work hard to try to turn it around.”
Reina signed a new six-year contract with Liverpool in April and said he was unaware of any official interest or offer from the club’s league rivals Arsenal.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reportedly shown interest in the Spanish goalkeeper, but Reina had this to say:
“The only thing I can do is play football and focus on Liverpool because I just signed a six-year contract,” Reina said. “It’s just because of the press. I don’t know anything else.”
Fellow Spaniard and Liverpool team mate Fernando Torres has struggled with injury and poor form in recent months but Reina said the forward would soon be back to his best.
“Fernando is one of the best strikers in the world. As soon as he is fit once again, and he’s working on that, he will be shining once again for us.”
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