After hitting good form for new club Crystal Palace, Christian Benteke has thanked Alan Pardew for his show of faith.
Christian Benteke signed for Crystal Palace in the summer and has found a good run of form for the first time since moving from Aston Villa. This, he claims is down to the faith shown in him by new manager Alan Pardew.
A £27 million fee was agreed between Liverpool and Crystal Palace after a few weeks of dead-end negotiations. The Belgian was never entirely comfortable on Merseyside as the Reds employ an entirely different tactical approach to that which Benteke is suited.
In his first five games for the Eagles, the former Aston Villa hitman his found the back of the net three times. Astonishingly, he has already made half the number of starts he did under Klopp and scored a third of the Premier League goals he managed last season.
If this isn’t proof that Benteke made the right decision to leave Liverpool, then what is?
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
How about words from the player’s very own mouth?
According to the Evening Standard, Benteke said, “I’m not the only striker in form, but I’m good. I’m happy to be in this vein of form, I’m going to take advantage of it. After the bad luck, I’m trying to make the most of my good luck.”
Moving to Liverpool was definitely the wrong move for Benteke, but the Belgian is looking ahead and just wants to work hard for his new club and its supporters.
He added, “I’m trying to repay through my performances the price they paid for me.
“I don’t think my form will change things (in the Belgium squad). What’s most important is to be ready, and I am.”
I am very pleased to see things working out for Benteke. He came in for a lot of criticism when he was at Liverpool, but one thing is certain, he is a consummate professional. He may have been woefully unsuited to playing for Jurgen Klopp but he tried his best and, aside from one ill-considered interview, he was extremely well-behaved.
Palace is eighth in the league, two points behind Chelsea and five behind Liverpool. The Eagles are very much looking up the table and not down, having won three out of their last five games and are on a five-match unbeaten streak.
Good for Bentekkers.
20 days left! Rousing the Kop has been nominated, as a result of your votes, to win an award as the Best New Football Blog! To vote for us to win, click on the picture below!