BABEL LEARNS FROM ANFIELD MISTAKES
Posted 28/04/10 17:09
Liverpool forward Ryan Babel admits he allowed himself to be affected by outside influences which ruined his game and almost forced him out of the club.
The Holland international was a bit-part player midway through the season and found an outlet for his frustrations through his personal Twitter page.
That prompted a personal rebuke from manager Rafael Benitez and with Birmingham reportedly having a £9million bid turned down, it appeared the Dutchman was heading for a January exit.
However, a meeting between Benitez, Babel and his agent straightened things out and since then the player has started to show glimpses of the form which persuaded Liverpool to pay £11million for him in July 2007.
And he could become a pivotal figure in Thursday's Europa League semi-final, second leg tie at home to Atletico Madrid, who lead 1-0, as there are major doubts over Dirk Kuyt (calf) and David Ngog (hamstring).
Babel could be asked to play the lone striker role, a position Benitez had been reluctant to give the 23-year-old despite him impressing there throughout Holland's youth ranks.
But Babel is confident he can do a job if required.
"I have made some mistakes during the season so I have learned a lot from this season and I will take that with me into the future," Babel said.
"I think the turning point was that I could focus on the football and not rumours and different sayings of people and the media.
"For every young player it is difficult to focus 100% when you know you are the subject of something that can influence your game.
"During that period people were telling me negative and positive things and that made me think about different things and you cannot concentrate on football.
"When you read in one paper that Liverpool want to get rid of you - even though you know it is not true - it is those little things which confuse you.
"I was not close [to leaving] but it was one of those things that did not make me concentrate 100%."
Of Benitez's pep talk he added: "It is a situation where both sides have to work with each other.
"It has given me confidence recently and I'm now trying to give something back.
"Liverpool have confidence in me and I have confidence in Liverpool."
Babel lays some of his self-doubt and insecurity at the feet of his father, a hard taskmaster by all accounts.
"I am very self-critical, that is how I have been raised," he added.
"I have a very difficult father who is always looking at points where I can improve.
"Sometimes that is annoying because you come off the pitch with a good feeling and he still comes with points that could be better.
"I only want to improve more. I think it is clear how my career has been so far but I'm confident for the future so, as long as I can concentrate on football, the best will definitely come."
