Liverpool must be braver on the ball says Brendan Rodgers after loss to Arsenal
Liverpool must be braver on the ball says Brendan Rodgers after loss to Arsenal
"Courage - not in terms of 50/50 tackles, but looking to play in areas others wouldn't" is crucial to Anfield manager's approach
Heads we win: Rodgers wants players to show mental strength under fire
Alex Livesey
Brendan Rodgers has told his players they need one quality above all else to stay in the title race - courage.
The
Liverpool boss has been speaking about his core philosophies as a
coach, and admitted that he would dearly like to fill his squad with
gifted technicians who are brave under pressure. The Reds showed a distinct lack of that quality at the Emirates last Saturday, when they were outplayed by Arsenal in their top of the table clash.
But Rodgers is hoping his team can develop their resilience as the season progresses.
"Courage
- that is a key quality for me; can you be brave on the pitch, not in
terms of 50/50 tackles, but having the ball and looking to play in areas
others wouldn't?" he explained in a revealing interview this week.
"I
think my history as a coach shows I like players who are gifted
technically and have courage when it comes to being in possession of a
football.
"I would say you can't divorce the two - ability and
personality. It all comes as part of the package. A player's character
is a crucial factor I look into before committing to signing them.
"They also need to show a willingness to learn, regardless of age and experience; that's very important to me."
The Liverpool manager is determined to keep his side in the title hunt, despite their being dismissed by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as lacking the strength in depth to sustain it over a season. Red herring: Mourinho doesn't expect Liverpool to stay in the title race
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And in talking about his position as boss at such an iconic
club, the Northern Irishman explained that he wants to leave a legacy of
taking the Reds back to the position their history demands.
"I
hope when my time as Liverpool manager is over, I'm remembered as
someone who improved the team and left the club in a better position
than I inherited it," he said.
"That's the most important, that
people recognise I did my best every day I was here to make Liverpool
the best it possibly can be, while upholding the football values that
this great club was built on.
"I hope they enjoy the style of
football the team plays and recognise we approach games to win them but
win them in a way that entertains and makes them proud as Liverpool
supporters.
"I am blessed and privileged to lead this club, and I
will cherish that for every second and minute I'm here. I don't see the
job as stressful, I really don't.
"Of course, there is pressure and expectation, but I wouldn't necessarily equate that with stress.
"There
are hard-working people in Liverpool and up and down the country who
encounter real stress, by worrying about how to pay the bills and feed
and clothe their children.
"That's stress, and I don't think it's fair to tally what they go through with the problems of being a football manager."
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