Pepe Reina

Cardiff City recently brought in Russell Slade as the new manager of the team in order to replace the former Manchester United player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Norwegian left his role after a few months into the new season due to his failure to get a club closer to the top of the table. Despite spending considerable amount of money in the summer,Solskjaer failed to bring results from a consistent basis. One of the several signings made by the club was striker Federico Macheda, who joined on a free transfer after allowing his contract at Manchester United to expire.

The Italian has had a tough time of late because he has been unable to get regular first-team football at none of his previous clubs in the last few years. This changed after the move to Birmingham City. The good run of form persuadedSolskjaer to take a gamble on him, which appeared to be a good move after he scored goals. The 23-year-old, though, has revealed now that he came to Cardiff only because of the former Manchester United man. Now thatSolskjaer had left the club, he feared for his future with the bluebirds.Slade, though, has been regularly utilising Macheda in an important position.

“I feared that it wasn’t going to be good for me.When I was fit I was starting to play a little bit more and then he got sacked.But the new manager came and he put me on the pitch.He’s a very honest guy. I find him a very good person for the team and a very good manager as well. When a new manager comes into a new club you’ve got to work hard to impress him from the first day. I’m happy he’s been impressed with me,” said the striker.

Pepe Reina has not been especially lucky when it comes to injuries since moving to Bayern Munich in the summer.

The Spaniard was aware that he was not going to be the first choice at the German club during the presence of Manuel Neuer, but he was hopeful of opportunities especially in the cup competitions. They have been limited after the former Liverpool goalkeeper spent eight weeks on the sidelines due to a calf injury. He has just returned to training and is hopeful of facing his first match in the next few days.

Pep Guardiola has relied heavily upon Reina to become the backup for Manuel Neuer. In the absence of Reina, he has had to use the inexperienced Leopold Zingerle on the bench. The 20-year-old may have struggled if his services had been required during this period. Speaking to the club’s official site, Reina confirmed that he is back to full fitness and is hopeful of challenging for the first-team spot. The 32-year-old is yet to make his official debut for the club. Due to the club’s progression in the German cup, his opportunities may come in such matches. A veteran with more than 600 appearances till date, Reina will be providing a wealth of experience should he be called upon.

“I’m really looking forward to playing again.I’m energised by the sense of anticipation.I’ve been working very hard over the last few weeks. I’ll be stronger for it when I come back.There’s quite a few of us [injured] at the moment unfortunately, so it’s not easy. But the good thing is that we mutually encourage each other.That’s very important at a time like this,” said Reina. Bayern Munich are expected to make Reina undergo coordination skills and jogging training in order to improve this fitness even more.

The Belgian goal-keeper Simon Mignolet is the current first choice shot-stopper for Brendan Rodgers for Liverpool but after conceding 9 goals in 6 Premier League matches, the defence of Liverpool is being a target of criticism and Mignolet is being put into question as if he’s good enough to be the undisputed option for a club that is struggling to pick up consistent victories.
Pepe Reina is the former irrefutable goal-keeper of Liverpool but his relationship with Brendan Rodgers is believed to have started to fall apart ever since Reina was being linked with a move to Barcelona as the Spanish player wanted to join Barcelona but a deal could never be completed and he instead joined Napoli.
A few months after joining Napoli, Pepe Reina revealed to the public that his career with Liverpool was over as they had signed Simon Mignolet and the Belgian player was in the plans of Brendan Rodgers but Pepe Reina wasn’t.
Reina went on to join Bayern Munich where he still has not been able to make a competitive appearance for the German club as they already have Manuel Neuer as their first choice player in between the posts.
Unless Manuel Neuer picks up an injury or something happens to him, it does not seem like Pepe Reina will be appearing into the main team of Bayern Munich anytime soon. Pepe Reina is still considered to be a top world class goal-keeper but he has to settle with a place on the sidelines of Bayern Munich with his chances of appearing into the main team being extremely limited and rare.
Liverpool is struggling in the Premier League with the defensive department of the club turning into a recent subject of criticism; the absence of Pepe Reina at Anfield is still being felt by his former teammates and club.

Leicester City’s return to the Premier League also says former Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky get back into the top flight once again. The 33-year-old is well-known for his Premier League days with the likes of West Ham, Fulham, and most recently Liverpool. However, he has been with Leicester for the last few years hoping for a day in the sunshine once again. This has come in the best possible manner after Leicester were promoted to the Premier League with a record points tally. As part of the pre-season preparations, Leicester have been involved in a friendly matches in the Far East.

They will be taking on Everton in a friendly match. Ahead of the encounter, Konchesky has said that he is very much looking forward to facing the Merseyside outfit, who will be one of their opponents in the coming campaign. Incidentally, Everton will be their first Premier league opponents, as Leicester prepared to host them in the first league match of the season. Roberto Martinez’ men will be providing a stern challenge on their return to the Premier league after they have strengthened the squad substantially in the summer. Romelu Lukaku has been brought from Chelsea on a permanent basis along with Gareth Barry.

Nigel Pearson’s team has also been active in the transfer window, but it seems that Konchesky will continue as the left back. “Hopefully, we will hit the ground running. With what the manager has added to last season’s squad, I think we have a great chance. We want to survive but our aim will be to push on beyond just finishing 17th. We are capable of it but first we have to stay in the league,” said the defender. Leicester have a couple of friendlies before they return to face Everton in the Premier League. This will be followed by a visit to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has claimed that his future will be decided in the next few weeks as he is set to hold talks with manager Brendan Rodgers. The Spaniard spent last season on loan at Napoli, but it is widely expected that the Italian club will not be signing the goalkeeper a permanent basis. This is due to the transfer fee demands of Liverpool. After signing Simon Mignolet from Sunderland for £ 9 million last season, it is looking highly unlikely that Reina will be able to play as a first-team regular for Liverpool again. The Belgian international will be the first choice goalkeeper in the new campaign.

Despite this, Reina is confident that some sort of agreement can be reached in the next few weeks of the transfer window, which may see him either stay at Anfield or move out on loan once again. Napoli have not totally ruled out the possibility of bringing back Reina, but Rafa Benitez recently claimed that he already has a number of good goalkeepers at his disposal. The 31-year-old recently made his debut for the Spanish national team after playing as the understudy for Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes all these years.

His first World Cup match also came in the debut against Australia. Reina featured in 30 matches for Napoli last season. “Without a team? I have one – Liverpool. I have a deal for another two years, even if I’ve not yet spoken with the coach to see what his plans are. Now I’m set to end my holidays and my agent is charged to do these things. I have not thought about this a lot this season. Last summer – it’s true – there have been contacts, but during the last season I kept my concentration on Napoli,” said Reina.

Pepe Reina has finally accepted the bitter truth that he will have to spend the next season at his parent club Liverpool only.

The Spanish international had played for the Italian Club Napoli on loan last season and had done fantastically well for them. He had made close to 150 saves in 45 appearances that he had made and thus, it was widely believed that Partenopei management would try to keep him for the 2014-15 Season as well. Reina himself had also expressed his desire to remain at Stadio San Paolo, but, a few days ago, Rafa Benitez, the Napoli boss, made it clear that his club had no intentions of securing the services of Reina on a permanent basis.

Speaking last week, Benitez said, “We are not looking to sign a goalie at the moment.”

According to the reports, the reason why Napoli decided to send Reina back to his parent club despite his match winning performances last season is his wages which are very high. They reckon that they can’t afford to pay that much money to him.

After Benitez’s statement that Napoli would not sign a shot stopper on a permanent basis in the near future, Reina had no option, but, to accept the fact that Liverpool would be his destination this summer.

Talking to the reporters yesterday, the 31-year old said, “I will have to make my way back to the Anfield for the time being. Apart from that, I don’t have anything else to tell you at this point of time.”

Reina was a certainty at Liverpool till the 2012-13 Season, but, after the arrival of Simon Mignolet last summer, he fell down the pecking order and was placed on loan to Napoli.
Reina has so far represented Liverpool in 285 League games.

Ever since Pepe Reina completed his loan move from Liverpool to Napoli on July of 2013, the Spanish goalkeeper has played a substantially important and consistent role in the Italian club.
Reina even declared that he has no future whatsoever in his former club Liverpool and considering all of the consistent as well as impressive performances from Reina in Napoli, now the club is interested in signing him on a permanent basis.

The Sporting director of the club Riccardo Bigon told the press: “Reina is a very important player both on the field and off. He has been fine in Naples, he has a very close relationship with Rafa Benitez and also his family has settled very well’’.

Pepe Reina expressed his satisfaction about winning his first silverware with Napoli as he told reporters: ‘’Lifting the trophy is not a minor triumph. In fact, I hope it can be the first of many trophies, though we need a more complete squad. It is a victory dedicated to the fans. The first part of the game was played very well and we pressed Fiorentina high up the field, then our opponents emerged over time.”

Napoli has secured the 3rd spot in the Italian League, Serie A which gives the team of Rafael Benitez the chance to play in the Champions League for the upcoming season and securing the services of Pepe Reina will surely increase their chances of playing against some of the best clubs and players across Europe.

Reina’s arrival to Napoli was an event that has taken a liking not only to the staff members of the club but the fans as well and even the president of Napoli Aurelio De Laurentiis, is aware of the impact that the former Liverpool player has made since making his way to the Serie A.
“I want him confirmed for next season. He was happy, for him it was a double reward.” The club president Aurelio De Laurentiis said.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who is on loan at Napoli, says that his former club have shown with the win over Manchester United at Old Trafford that they are to be taken as contenders for the title. Liverpool managed a 3-0 win over United at Old Trafford.

Despite the ongoing troubles faced by Manchester United under David Moyes, this is seen as a big result for Liverpool nonetheless. They have managed to steamroll most of the opposition this season. As a result, they are close to the top of the table with April set to approach in the next few weeks.

Reina was part of the Liverpool team that challenged for the title along with United for one season before withering away. It was during the regime of Rafa Benitez. During his time at Liverpool, Reina managed only a few trophies. However, he thinks that his parent club will be able to win the league title this season. Reina is almost certain to leave the club at the end of the season. Napoli could be his next destination on a permanent basis after Barcelona decided to look elsewhere. There were rumours a few weeks ago that Reina would become the next Barcelona goalkeeper.

The Spaniard has been slowly looking like his former self under the guidance of Benitez.
“Absolutely, the demonstration of football the other day it was the best signal they can win the league. The fixtures are a little bit easier for them than the other teams and the way they played at Old Trafford, although Man United are struggling, to go there and perform like they did and to win 3-0, it could have been more, it’s never easy. The pace of them on one versus one and their instincts and mentality of their attacking skills is unbelievable,” said Reina.

Napoli is located in the top 3 spots of the Italian league Serie A with just a few points behind Juventus and As.Roma. Rafael Benitez is enjoying a fairly successful season so far as they have pretty much secured their Champions League spot for the upcoming season and even though they are 20 points behind the table toppers Juventus, the Italian club is more than happy on finishing the campaign in a 3rd spot.

Rafael Benitez and his men is one of the club’s which has conceded less goals in the entire league which just shows how well Pepe Reina has established himself as the main goalkeeper for Napoli since making his move from Liverpool on July of 2013.

Pepe Reina has already written a letter of thanks to the Liverpool fans that have supported him throughout the years as he will not be returning to the Premier League club. After Liverpool secured the signing of Simon Mignolet, Reina’s playing time was limited and he decided on making a loan move to Napoli and as each day passes, it would be highly unlikely to believe that the Italian club will be willing on letting him go in the summer.

The Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina has always been a fairly consistent goalkeeper in just about every club he has joined and at some point in time, he was even being considered to be the successor of Victor Valdes for Barcelona but his future is becoming brighter with Napoli than anywhere else.

Barcelona still has not resolved their goalkeeper issue as to who will be replacing Valdes when he leaves the club at the end of the season and they might even launch an offer for Pepe Reina but it seems hard to believe that Napoli is going to even consider releasing him after having an impressive debut season in Serie A.

Napoli will be without top scorer Gonzalo Higuain for the match against Livorno during the weekend, but manager Rafa Benitez says that his team will manage to cope without the star striker. Higuain was brought to the club only in the summer for £ 32 million. He was given the task of replacing Edinson Cavani, who had become a cult hero at the club.

So far, he has managed to do this in brilliant fashion, although Napoli have been unable to sustain their title challenge for long. Still, they remain in contention for a top three finish, which will give them Champions League football next season.

In order to do that, Napoli need to stay in touch with Juventus and Roma by managing three points against Livorno. Even though the opposition are down near the bottom of the table, they will provide stiff opposition for Napoli, who do not have been in the great run of form themselves.

Benitez says that Napoli are extremely strong in this position with the likes of Goran Pandev and Jose Callejon providing backup to Higuain. He is also targeting a balance between defence and attack, which he says was extremely apparent in the recent match against Roma.

Napoli have managed just two wins in the last four matches, and will miss Higuain, who is one of the favourites to be the World Cup top scorer.

“Losing Gonzalo is important but… Goran Pandev, Jose Callejon or Duvan Zapata can all do well. I have faith in them all. We’ve got to focus on more than just the result against Livorno. Looking back to the Coppa Italia semi-final against Roma, we had balance. We attacked and defended very well. We can’t expect our strikers to put in the same effort in defending as those with less quality. My problem is finding solidity between defence and attack,” said Benitez.
After this match, they have an important encounter against Roma.