Bellamy wants chance to prove critics wrong

May 22 2007 by Paul Walker, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL striker Craig Bellamy wants to put a Champions League winner’s medal on his CV as an emphatic answer to his army of critics.

Bellamy senses he may not be in the starting line-up against AC Milan in Athens tomorrow, but he will be desperate to at least make the substitutes‘ bench for the “greatest game of my life.”

The Welshman travelled to Athens with the squad today, aware his career at Anfield is in the balance. There is speculation he could be shipped out at the end of the campaign as manager Rafael Benitez’s embarks on a summer spending spree with two strikers his priority.

Aston Villa, Blackburn and West Ham are all believed to be in the hunt for the Cardiff-born firebrand, but Bellamy will put all that aside to give everything he can muster to the Liverpool cause.

Bellamy is no stranger to controversy – on the pitch or in his private life. And because of that he is a constant target for the critics.

Bellamy said: “I am just trying to make sure I cement a place at least on the bench. I don’t want to be watching from the stands, I just want to be involved, and hopefully lifting the trophy.

“Then it does not matter what anyone has said, or written about me over the years, I will have the biggest trophy of all to bring out now and again to show them.”

And as for the constant transfer speculation, Bellamy is dismissive, saying: “If people know my career, they will know how often I have been the subject of transfer speculation.

“It happens to me all the time. I was even supposed to be off in January just a few months after signing for Liverpool.

“I’m used to it. No matter where I have been, whatever club. It was always the same at Newcastle, it was the same at Blackburn and Norwich. And even Celtic. I have always seemingly been about to be off somewhere. But I seem to have a contract each season. My missus is happy about that!”

He added: “This has been a very strange season, very up and down. Different to anything I have experienced before. But I knew when I arrived at Liverpool the part I would have to play, but you always want to cement your place in the side.