RAFA BENITEZ believes a radical overhaul of the reserve league is required in order to nurture more young talent through the ranks.
The Liverpool boss says the current second string format isn’t providing enough experience or competitive football for those seeking to step up a level.
"It is clear that the reserve league doesn't work,” said Benitez. “You can see youngsters playing just 18 games a season, that is nothing. Certainly not enough for the development of these players.
"We can go a month without a reserve match, it is crazy. You then play against teams full of senior players.
"It is something that we can improve in this country. Or if we do not change we will find other solutions, sending youngsters out on loan like I have done recently.
"We have a mix of local players and foreign players, and that is the key in the future. You need local players because they have passion, but you need quality as well and sometimes you can buy a player with more quality who is cheaper from abroad.
"We must look at these kind of things for the future.
"I do not see a reserve team with four or five senior players playing without passion.
He added: “These games are for young players.
"Between 18 and 21-years-old in this country, the players do not know what to do. If they are good enough at 18 they are with the first team but on the bench all the time.
"Then if you want to improve their level you must change the reserve league system.”
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