Benteke won't be fazed by pressure
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Christian Benteke: Pressure wont faze me in pursuit of goals
Christian Benteke says he will not be fazed by the expectation of having to shine in front of goal for Aston Villa this term.
The Belgian international was the Villans top scorer last term, helping them to Premier League survival despite Paul Lamberts young and inexperienced squad.
The 22-year-old has already been among the goals in pre-season, netting a hat-trick against Crewe to celebrate his new four-year deal at Villa Park, after speculation linking him with a summer move to Tottenham.
And Benteke is now looking forward to improving even more this season and says he will not crumble under the pressure.
I am very happy to score some goals already in pre-season. I feel good. I feel really good, he told the Aston Villa website.
I expect myself to do better than last season. When you score goals you get some really good confidence levels. They rise.
As a striker, a lot of people are waiting for me. The fans are waiting for me. So the pressure is going to be bigger around me but this is football and I accept that.
I can take that. I am young. I am confident. This is part of football. You have to be able to handle this pressure. This is the life I have chosen so I am happy to take this on. I love it.
Last season was a very good first season for me. I was happy with it. But now its behind me. I have to look forward and try to do the same or even better.
Its been a positive summer for Villa, who have also tied down Bentekes strike-partner Andreas Weimann to a new deal, as well as bringing several new faces to Villa Park.
Lambert will now be hoping Benteke will be firing on all cylinders to get their campaign off to a flyer when they travel to Arsenal on the opening day of the season.
Christian Benteke says he will not be fazed by the expectation of having to shine in front of goal for Aston Villa this term.
The Belgian international was the Villans top scorer last term, helping them to Premier League survival despite Paul Lamberts young and inexperienced squad.
The 22-year-old has already been among the goals in pre-season, netting a hat-trick against Crewe to celebrate his new four-year deal at Villa Park, after speculation linking him with a summer move to Tottenham.
And Benteke is now looking forward to improving even more this season and says he will not crumble under the pressure.
I am very happy to score some goals already in pre-season. I feel good. I feel really good, he told the Aston Villa website.
I expect myself to do better than last season. When you score goals you get some really good confidence levels. They rise.
As a striker, a lot of people are waiting for me. The fans are waiting for me. So the pressure is going to be bigger around me but this is football and I accept that.
I can take that. I am young. I am confident. This is part of football. You have to be able to handle this pressure. This is the life I have chosen so I am happy to take this on. I love it.
Last season was a very good first season for me. I was happy with it. But now its behind me. I have to look forward and try to do the same or even better.
Its been a positive summer for Villa, who have also tied down Bentekes strike-partner Andreas Weimann to a new deal, as well as bringing several new faces to Villa Park.
Lambert will now be hoping Benteke will be firing on all cylinders to get their campaign off to a flyer when they travel to Arsenal on the opening day of the season.
