Although he continues to be backed publicly by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Belgium boss Marc Wilmots doesn’t appear to have the same amount of confidence in Reds striker Christian Benteke and has hinted that a lack of playing time has seen the 25-year old slip so far down the pecking order that he could miss out on Euro-2016.
“It’s difficult,” he told Belgian media outlet Het Nieuwsblad when asked about the big striker. “Klopp arrived at Liverpool and has made his choice,” explained Wilmots, making reference to Divock Origi getting regular game time at the expense of his more experienced countryman. “Now, Christian Benteke is full of doubt.”
The former Aston Villa man has admitted that his enormous price-tag has put added pressure on him to perform, but that he remains confident in his ability to deliver at Anfield. With Daniel Sturridge claiming his rightful spot in the starting eleven and Klopp often preferring to call on the pace of Origi in the later stages of the game, chances to prove that he’s not all talk have been few and far between since the German took over in October.
“It’s a shame for Benteke, but he still has time to show what he can do at Liverpool,” mused the Belgian boss. “He already missed the World Cup due to injury, missing the Euros would be painful for him,” he continued, before refusing to rule him out completely. “I will choose according to the profiles, not on the form of the last two months or anything like this.”
