Johnson hits back

Johnson on the defensive

Liverpool and England defender Glen Johnson has delivered a fierce response to critics of his ability at club and international level.

The right-back, who is expected to have recovered from a groin injury to face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, has had his defensive performances questioned at times this season.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez signed Johnson from Portsmouth in a summer deal worth an estimated £17million as he aimed to give his rearguard an increased offensive edge in wide positions, and the 25-year-old's attacking attributes have been praised.

However, his defending for a struggling Liverpool side, who will aim end a worst run of results for 22 years when hosting bitter North West rivals United, and England has been scrutinised.

Johnson, though, insists he does not pay attention to media evaluations of his displays, saying at an event to promote EA SPORTS FIFA 10 when asked if he finds criticism difficult to accept: "Not if it's accurate, which it's not. It is ridiculous.

"The other day we were playing Chelsea. I got a cross in against Ashley Cole. Does that mean that he is rubbish and can't defend? No, it doesn't. He is the best left-back in the world.
Personal attack

"You can't stop everything. It is the same with every player, but obviously people just like to make a thing of it when it's me."

Asked if he thought media criticism was a personal attack, Johnson added: "I don't know. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I don't have to listen to it and I choose not to.

"It is opinions. Opinions don't mean anything to me. It is someone's opinion that has no power in the game whatsoever so it doesn't matter."

The former West Ham and Chelsea player maintains that the only analysis he will take note of is that from England boss Fabio Capello and Benitez.

"If Capello tells me or Rafa tells me, then I'll pay attention. If it comes from someone writing an interview, then I'm not going to pay it attention," said Johnson.

"I have learnt that the press will have an opinion whether they are entitled to one or not. So it is not for me to worry about. I just worry about myself.

Luxury life

"If I feel like I am doing a job right, then I feel like I'm doing the job right.

"I don't need somebody in the papers to tell me that I'm playing five out of ten, or eight out of ten.

"Clearly some days you play brilliantly and you get four out of ten, then some days you play s**t and you get an eight out of ten. So I don't think people who do that watch the game. I don't worry about that at all.

"If Rafa was to say to me that I am the worst defender in the world, then I would be out there working on it.

"Obviously, I work hard at what I do everyday anyway. But, in terms of people saying that I can't defend, until it comes from Rafa or Fabio I won't worry about it."

Johnson added: "People just think that all we do is play football, go home, live the luxury life and not have a care in the world. It is not like that one bit."


Sky Sports

Well said young man head down work hard and F**k em all.

Well said young man head down work hard and f**k em all.

Sounds like my kind of orgy 

Class didnt clock that till you pointed it out

On a serious note well said Glen, but you do need to work on the defensive side of your game so take the criticism constructively for Liverpool FC and do the job your paid well very well to do aka "Defend".

A top class player one of the few success stories so far this season.

Johnno lad your a Liverpool player now...public enemy number 1 pal

Well said.

Especially this bit ""I don't need somebody in the papers to tell me that I'm playing five out of ten, or eight out of ten."

Well in Johnson.

Show the critics what you have against the Mancs.

well said, Johnson.
Just dont pay the critics and the press any attention and show them wrong with your class performances.   

"If Capello tells me or Rafa tells me, then I'll pay attention. If it comes from someone writing an interview, then I'm not going to pay it attention," said Johnson.

Well said, though he needs to start putting Benitez before Capello.

You tell em big boy

Johnno lad your a Liverpool player now...public enemy number 1 pal

Dead Right That.

Well said, though he needs to start putting Benitez before Capello.

What i was thinking. Come on Glen, mate

Now show the press how the shove it on Sunday

Well in Glen
How anyone can criticise him is beyond me, when it was inevitable that he was to leave pompey last season he must have been the most sought after player in the league.

I think he's brilliant. The best full back in the league in my opinion

Just ignore them. Liverpool are paying your wages not those inbreds. Who cares what they said about you!

Good to see that Glen is already one of our own and speaking his mind ! proves to me that he does car and he has the passion to improve and succeed at our club ....good interview kid !

Just show em tomorrow

Well said Glen and just keep concentrating playing well for us,just keep thinking that you are only getting the attention as you are playing for the biggest and best club in the world and most of the media hate us.

Thought Johnson gave a very solid performance today, you wouldn't have known Giggs was on the pitch he owned him.

Great way to hit back at the critics.

Well said Glen ,use it as motivation ,you'll get used to it playing for Liverpool as the media gobshites love to stick the knife in ,av a word with Johnny Barnes he will tell you all about it .

Nice to see him backing up all the talk with the performance on the pitch as well.

Super defensive performance from the lad, he's getting better in that department. Still work to do though.