Don't compare me to Liverpool FC legend Ray Clemence yet says goalkeeper Pepe Reina

Jun 25 2009 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes he still has someway to go before he can be compared with Anfield legend Ray Clemence.

While many heap high praise on Reina, with manager Rafael Benitez even going as far as to claim he is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, the Spanish stopper himself acknowledges he is someway behind Clemence.

Since arriving at Anfield in 2005 from Villarreal, Reina has broken a host of club records, as well as lifting the FA Cup, Uefa Super Cup and Community Shield and being named Golden Glove winner three seasons on the bounce before missing out to Edwin van der Sar this campaign.

But the modest 26-year-old is still uneasy about comparisons with Clemence, who won the Division One title with Liverpool five times, the European Cup three times, the Uefa Cup twice plus the FA Cup and League Cup in a 14-year Anfield career.

“You will hear people talking about different eras and likening successful sides of the past to successful teams of the present,” he said.

“I’m not sure it’s fair to do that. I’m not even sure what system Liverpool used when Clemence played or whether teams were attacking more or less than they do today.

“There are so many things that you have to consider.

“What I do know is that Clemence was probably the best goalkeeper in Liverpool’s history. Of course, my aim is to achieve just half of what Clemence did with Liverpool. If I manage that it will be a successful time for the club.”

In April, Reina became the quickest goalkeeper in the club’s history to achieve 100 clean sheets in all competitions, beating Clemence’s record that had stood for three decades.

The Spaniard achieved the landmark in just 197 appearances, while Clemence reached his century from 200 run outs.

“I appreciate all the nice things people have said about me,” added the former Barcelona stopper. “I feel I have improved many things in my game during the four years I have been at Liverpool. But I still have plenty of things to clear and am still young in terms of being a goalkeeper.

“I am only 26 so still have a pretty long way to go. Hopefully that will be with Liverpool.”

Reina is quick to highlight the contribution of his teammates in helping him overtake such milestones.

He continued: “I’m pleased to go into the history books alongside someone like Clemence. You have to be pleased with that. But it’s not all down to Pepe Reina. It has to be shared with my teammates and especially the defenders.

“It’s down to all the lads and the people who play in front of me. They make my job a lot easier so full credit to them.

“Always when we keep a clean sheet and we win, it makes the win a bit more special for people like Carra and Arbeloa, defenders whose job it is to help us keep a clean sheet.”