Sun 24th May - JJB Stadium
Last updated: 8th February 2008
Benjani: Happy with move
Benjani Mwaruwari insists there was never any problem with his move to Manchester City, amid reports he was somewhat coerced into a deal.
The Zimbabwean has been quoted by a newspaper in his homeland as saying he was less than enamoured with the idea of leaving Portsmouth for Eastlands.
Benjani's switch to Manchester was one of transfer deadline day's more protracted deals but now it has gone through, he insists he is more than content with how events have unfolded.
"I was surprised because it was two days before the deadline," Benjani told Sky Sports News.
"Sometimes you hear that clubs are looking at you two weeks before.
"Obviously I was happy. As I've said before Manchester City are a big club.
"That is why I drove to London to catch the flight."
Reports had suggested City failed to get the paperwork in on time because Benjani missed his flight from London to Manchester.
However, this idea has been now been firmly rebuffed by the 29-year-old, who added: "The problem is that I live in Bournemouth, close to Southampton.
"They didn't have flights from Southampton so I had to travel from Southampton to London.
"Then the first flight was delayed, that's why I was late."
Benjani insists there was also no truth in rumours which circulated suggesting he had experienced problems in his medical.
"I don't think there was any truth (in the reports) because I signed all the papers before the deadline. I was ready.
"I was shocked when I was reading all this news, I was always cool, and I was relaxed.
"It was always through before the deadline, no problem."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Havant and W vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Basingstoke vs Portsmouth |
| Monday 27th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Eastleigh vs Portsmouth |
| Friday 31st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 21:15 | Guimaraes vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 21:15 | Benfica vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Rangers |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Bolton |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Everton |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 2nd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Monday 27th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Wednesday 22nd April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 2 West Brom | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 1 Everton | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 3rd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 14th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 3 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 24th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 2 Swansea | |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 1 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 13th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Bristol City 0 - 2 Portsmouth | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Manchester City | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Manchester United | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Portsmouth | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sunderland | 0 | 0 |
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