NEW RED JERMAINE INTERVIEWED

Jermaine Pennant: 'This is the best club in the country'

Jermaine Pennant has officially signed for Liverpool in a deal believed to be £6.7 million with the possibility of rising to £8 million dependent on performance.

The player was interviewed by the official site prior to leaving to join the rest of the players in the training camp in Switzerland.

Interview from official website.

Liverpoolfc.tv: Welcome to Liverpool, Jermaine, how happy are you to be here?

Jermaine Pennant: I'm over the moon. I've dreamt about this since I was a little boy so to actually be here and to be able to wear a Liverpool shirt and play at Anfield is a dream come true.

So you're a Liverpool fan....

Yes. My family have always supported Liverpool and I grew up watching videos of them on the television. My grandad and grandma came here in the seventies and I think Liverpool must have caught their eyes. The love of the club has spread through the family ever since.

I actually got my first Liverpool kit when I was about four years of age. John Barnes was my idol when I first started watching Liverpool but then as I got older I loved Robbie Fowler.

How did you feel when you first got told Rafa wanted to sign you?

It was a great confidence boost for me but to actually be here today and see it happening is even more thrilling. I've heard all the speculation over the last few weeks and it has been frustrating to have to wait so long. I had to remain professional because I still had a job to do at Birmingham but as soon as I found out a fee had been agreed it was the best moment of my life.

I always wanted to come to Liverpool. This is the only club I would have wanted to sign for. There's always a doubt in your mind as to whether or not it will happen because you don't know if the clubs will agree a transfer fee but I just stayed positive and believed it would happen for me. It was only yesterday when I found out the deal was on and that it was going to happen.

I don't think it has sunk in yet and it probably won't until I'm out in Switzerland with the lads training in a Liverpool jersey.

It's been well documented that the manager has been looking for a right sided player for a long time. You are now that man so what can the Liverpool fans expect from you?

I want to do what I'm good at which is getting past players down the line and getting plenty of quality crosses into the box.

The stats say you put 497 crosses into the box last season - more than any other Premiership player. With Peter Crouch and others to aim for, the right side could be productive for Liverpool this season...

Crouchie is a great target man and of course I'll be looking to make the service into the box as good as possible. I'm sure he's looking forward to it as well. I just want to work hard and improve as much as I can to play an important role for the team.

This is obviously a step up for you from Birmingham, how confident are you that you can be a success here?

I'm more than confident. My best will come at this club because I am playing alongside top quality players who will only help me develop my game.

What are your thoughts on the current Liverpool team?

Over the last couple of years they've done magnificently well and there have been more signings this summer who all look really good. Obviously the captain is there as the central point of the team and there are quality players all around him. I'm looking forward to making the most of this opportunity.

Have you spoken with your new manager yet?

I've only had a quick conversation with him on the telephone but I'll be meeting up with him in Switzerland later and I'm sure we'll talk a lot more.

Things didn't work out for you at Arsenal but you're now back at a top club. Is this the level where you feel you belong?

Yes, this is the best club in the country and the best club to be at so if I can't do it here then I won't be able to do it anywhere. I've still got a long career ahead of me because I'm still young, but hopefully I'll enjoy all my good times here.

How do you reflect on your time at Arsenal when you look back now?

I enjoyed it there and learnt a lot at Highbury. I'm grateful for what I got out of my time there, but I didn't feel I was getting a chance and so I moved on. I'm here now so I think everything happens for a reason. I've certainly got no regrets about leaving Arsenal.

I'm ready for this new challenge at another top club now. I've played a lot of games in the Premiership and am definitely equipped to perform at this level.

What's your fitness like at the moment?

I feel great. We came back about a month ago at Birmingham and have been away on a pre-season tour. I'm probably about a week ahead of the other Liverpool players in terms of fitness.

So you could make your debut against Kaiserslautern this weekend..

Yes, if I'm needed. I'm fit to play.

The club have won major trophies in the last two seasons - did you watch the finals as a fan and cheer on the lads against AC Milan and West Ham?

I was away in Mauritius with my girlfriend when the Champions League final was on and I watched it along with a load of other Liverpool fans on the big screen in my hotel. When we went 3-0 down I just went back to my room feeling really disappointed. A bit later I put the match on again and saw it was 3-3. I couldn't believe it and started jumping all over the bed.

How big a dream is it of yours now to win medals as a Liverpool player?

I've come here to be successful and it'd be a great feeling if I can win trophies as a Liverpool player.

Are you hoping this move can enhance your international ambitions with England as well?

Yes, definitely, and moving to Liverpool will only help me. Playing with players of the quality at this club can only be good for my career. I couldn't be more excited.

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