The big Belgian striker has scored seven goals in his last five matches for Villa, including a hat-trick against QPR last week, after suffering a frustrating time in front of goal since returning from injury prior to Sherwood’s appointment as manager at Villa Park in February.
The former Tottenham Hotspur head coach is slowly guiding the club away from the Premier League drop zone as well as to Sunday’s semi-final showdown with Liverpool, and Benteke says his arrival has injected a new-found confidence throughout the squad.
Aston Villa v Liverpool
FA Cup Semi-Final
3pm, Sunday 19 April
Wembley Stadium connected by EE
Winners receive £900,000
Live on BT Sport
“The first day he came he said we have to play without fear. You can see when he speaks he has a lot of charisma and confidence and it helps because we are a young squad,” the red-hot marksman.
“It’s not only me, but it’s all the squad. When he arrived he gave a lot of confidence and feeling. He has given us a lot of freedom. Not just me, but I think Gabby [Agbonlahor], the other strikers and the midfield, he has helped us a lot.”
He added: “I was out for a long time and I knew I’d need time to perform – it’s simple. Now I’m scoring when I wasn’t before – it’s my body. I wasn’t fit.
“I was training hard and doing everything to be fit, but the body needs time to recover so that’s why I maybe wasn’t scoring before.”
And after finding his form in front of goal over the past month, the 24-year-old marksman says it is his job to deliver the goods – including against Liverpool.
“We strikers live by goals. A striker who doesn’t score can’t properly help the team cause he has to score goals.
“When you play in England you have pressure every week. You have to deal with it and for me it’s ok.”
“Before the gaffer came, I was sometimes playing good but didn’t really get many chances, and I’d go back home frustrated. It was mixed feelings, I’d be frustrated because I didn’t score and because I didn’t have chances - now I have chances.”
Benteke has scored seven in his last five games
Benteke is not the only one fired up for the Cup clash, and despite the tender age of his team-mates, he insists that they are going there to win.
“Everyone is motivated to go there and try and do something good and get to the Final.
“At the moment the confidence in the team is high. We can’t just be happy to play in a semi-final - you want to go to the Final. So we will fight like we have done the last few weeks.”
Villa sit 15th in the Premier League table, six points above the drop zone and ten places behind Liverpool.
Despite their opponents challenging for a Champions League place, and with the majority of neutrals making them favourites, Benteke is confident his side will create the opportunities for him.
“Of course Liverpool will be favourites, but when you are there it is always 50-50 on the pitch.
“We are going to have some chances. I’m feeling good and all I want to do is try and help the team.”
