When you’ve been outclassed as Liverpool were against Real Madrid, it’s understandable to conclude that the outrage over some shirt-swapping should be dismissed as a mere distraction obscuring rather bigger problems.
And yet, when the man at the centre of the supposed controversy is Mario Balotelli then distraction just about sums it up. Nobody said replacing Luis Suarez was going to be easy, but the overwhelming feeling is that it needn’t have been quite this hard.
For a relatively modest fee, Liverpool were picking up a player who – at 24 – should be approaching his prime. It was remarkable given his pedigree. One of the star performers at Euro 2012, Balotelli has scored at least 13 league goals in each of his last three seasons. He’s strong, quick and has a reputation as a good finisher.
The Liverpool crowd immediately warmed to him and there was excitement and intrigue as to whether he could emerge as the next Kop hero. But just months into Balotelli’s three-year contract and the ongoing flaws in his game are already evident. Perhaps most worryingly, this is a player showing little signs of progression.
Mario Balotelli has had plenty of shots in the Premier League this season but is yet to score
The Italian is still waiting for his first Premier League goal, despite having fired off 22 shots. Indeed, the only players to have pulled the trigger more times are Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and Southampton’s Graziano Pelle – the division’s joint-top and third highest scorers respectively.
It’s not as if all of those efforts have been from improbable positions either, although there were times at Queens Park Rangers at the weekend when he tried the patience of his team-mates. Overall, the quality of service he’s received has been good. The Opta stats suggest Balotelli has missed four clear-cut chances this season. Nobody in the Premier League has wasted more.
PlayerShotsGoalsClear chances missed
Sergio Aguero2994
Graziano Pelle2962
Mario Balotelli2204
Lukas Jutkiewicz2001
Wilfried Bony1921
Diego Costa1991
There has only been one goal so far – in arguably his most encouraging performance yet in the win over Bulgarian side Ludogorets. But the big players need to show their quality in the big games and Rodgers might already be coming to the conclusion that Balotelli cannot be carried by his team when the tougher tests come along.
“Balotelli plays in moments,” said Gary Neville on co-commentary for the Real Madrid game. “His moments.” But against the champions of Europe, it was never going to be a case of choosing when to chase. Every ball up to him needed to stick and every clearance upfield had to be contested. In the event, the stats show Balotelli won just one duel for the ball. He was far too static.
Four of his 23 touches in that first 45 minutes came from Liverpool’s multiple kick-offs. He produced no tackles, interceptions, clearances or blocks. In fact, there was very little pressing of any description – most damagingly evident when he wandered over towards Toni Kroos as a token gesture, allowing the German to loop over a cross from which Karim Benzema doubled Real’s lead.
Rodgers has been adamant that Balotelli would come good, continuing to defend his new signing at the weekend, and there was always a sense that the Liverpool boss would relish this ultimate examination of his man-management. He would surely love to succeed where Jose Mourinho would not – describing Balotelli as “unmanageable” - and Roberto Mancini seemingly could not.
Mario Balotelli: Testing the patience of Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers already
However, in refusing to downplay the significance of the forward’s shirt-swapping with Pepe, Rodgers offered the first public hint of exasperation. The spark was far more likely to have been Balotelli’s performance – as shown by the manager’s additional comments. “It was just tactical,” Rodgers told Sky Sports in explaining his half-time substitution. “I felt we needed a bit more intensity and more work rate through the middle to occupy their centre halves a wee bit more.
“I thought Adam Lallana came on and did very well. Raheem Sterling played up there and it was difficult for him but he kept working and he kept trying in what is not a natural position for him. He was excellent. In the second half, everyone was working and everyone was pressing so we didn’t concede, which was important for our pride as much as anything.”
Liverpool needed more work rate so Balotelli was taken off. The manager also appears to have reasoned that it would make more sense to play Sterling out of position than expect a shift from his £16million striker. It’s a situation that already has Jamie Carragher suggesting Balotelli might not be at Anfield next season. And when a Liverpool legend like that is reaching such a conclusion, it’s an indication of the biggest problem that faces Balotelli regarding his Liverpool future.
The media will always be drawn to such a character and supporters might regard the shirt-swapping as an overblown irrelevance, but it’s the view of his team-mates at Melwood that could make or break him. If those within the club begin to question the commitment levels and sense he isn’t aching to perform against the European champions, then he really might be doomed. It’s time for Mario Balotelli to pull his sleeves up rather than take his shirt off.