Reina reflects on the ‘best years’ of his life in football

Pepe Reina has suggested that he was at his “prime” during a five-year spell at Liverpool between 2005 and 2010.

The Spaniard played for FC Barcelona and Villarreal prior to his move to Liverpool in 2005. He was signed by Rafael Benitez.

Reina came in as their new first-choice goalkeeper. He played 55 times during his debut season as Liverpool lifted the FA Cup.

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The Spain international won the Premier League’s Golden Glove award in three straight seasons between 2005 and 2008. He also won Liverpool’s Player of the Year award at the end of the 2009/10 campaign.

Reina ended up spending eight seasons at Liverpool, playing just short of 400 times across all competitions.

The 39-year-old spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Napoli and he joined Bayern Munich permanently the following summer. He has now reflected on his time at Liverpool:

“My prime was Liverpool,” Reina told Marca.

“From 2005 to 2010, on a sporting level, they were the best years of my life when I performed the best, and the numbers are there.

“I have tried to be competitive throughout my career, in one way or another. I’ve stuck to the course, as they say in golf, as long as I can.”

Meanwhile, Glen Johnson has argued that a move to Liverpool from Chelsea for Timo Werner would be great for the forward as Jurgen Klopp could get the best out of him.

Johnson had spells at Chelsea and Liverpool during his playing career. He thinks Klopp would help Werner to regain his confidence:

“He’s got a lot to offer. Just at Chelsea, from day one, he’s looked super, super low on confidence,” Johnson told bettingodds.com (via The Express).

“Maybe someone like Klopp would make him smile and enjoy his football. If that was the case then I think he’s got a lot to offer and the way that Liverpool play then he’s going to get a lot of goalscoring opportunities, he’s going to be fast on the break, so, yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me.

“I think a lot of people will be shocked but I don’t think it would actually surprise me. If Klopp can get him happy and smiling and confident then you’re going to have a good player on your hands.”