Luis Suarez ban: "I can understand if he felt he couldn’t carry on" in England says Liverpool boss
Rodgers admits it would be hard to argue with his star
striker wanting to quit the Prem following his 10-game suspension for
biting
Michael Regan
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits it is ‘perfectly understandable’ if Luis Suarez now wants out.
The striker feels persecuted over his 10-match ban but the Anfield boss insists he has not given a second’s thought to losing him in the summer.
Rogers is instead relying on the support of the club and their close-knit group of players to make the Uruguayan see sense.
Regarding the bite on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina said: “Luis knows full well that what he did was wrong, but a 10-game ban seems to me absurd, out of proportion and unfair.
“It seems that the people making the decisions have got it in for Luis a little bit.
“He knows he was in the wrong, he knows he has made a mistake so I am not justifying what he did, but for me there is hypocrisy.
“I don’t know if it’s so much xenophobia, but a different yardstick is used.”
Rodgers agrees with the sentiments Reina expressed - and which you can read more of by clicking here - even if he is reluctant to be so outspoken himself.
He fears his star striker could easily convince himself of the need to leave English football if his persecution complex is left to fester.
Yet the Liverpool manager is a leading advocate among modern coaches of an approach to the job that looks after players’ mental as well as physical health.
Rodgers said: “I can understand if he felt he couldn’t carry on in this country, if he felt like that in a moment of reflection.
“I know at this moment he’s visibly very disappointed. I look in his face and for the first time since I arrived here I see a guy – a genuine guy – who is bitterly disappointed.
“It was something he knows was clear, he knows what he did and he expected punishment, but he hoped he would be supported in a rehab process that allows him not to do it again.
“So it will take time for him to come to terms and understand why he’s been punished in this way.
“That will make you think, no question. But in a couple of days’ time when he is more reflective – because there’s a shock and anger at the moment – a sense of reality will set in.
“Once he feels he knows the support he has from the management and the club it will make him think differently.”
Rodgers is adamant he hasn’t even considered the prospect of his star player looking for a move.
Instead, he will make clear Suarez is still the foundation on which Liverpool will build their team – and rely on the close-knit nature of Merseyside to help him through his despair.
“For us now it’s a case of supporting him, He’s part of the Liverpool family and very much part of the future,” Rodgers added.
“Even though he’s not playing, he’s very important for us going forward in order for us to succeed.
“We will plan with Luis being here. There is no other thought in my mind – Luis is very much a player I believe will be here.”
* LIVERPOOL are plotting a summer switch for promising Portuguese centre-back Tiago Ilori, writes James Nursey.
The London-born 20-year-old plays for Sporting Lisbon and is available for £1.3million.
Pacy Ilori has broken the Lisbon sprint records of both Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Reds need a new stopper with Jamie Carragher due to retire.
The striker feels persecuted over his 10-match ban but the Anfield boss insists he has not given a second’s thought to losing him in the summer.
Rogers is instead relying on the support of the club and their close-knit group of players to make the Uruguayan see sense.
Regarding the bite on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina said: “Luis knows full well that what he did was wrong, but a 10-game ban seems to me absurd, out of proportion and unfair.
“It seems that the people making the decisions have got it in for Luis a little bit.
“He knows he was in the wrong, he knows he has made a mistake so I am not justifying what he did, but for me there is hypocrisy.
“I don’t know if it’s so much xenophobia, but a different yardstick is used.”
Rodgers agrees with the sentiments Reina expressed - and which you can read more of by clicking here - even if he is reluctant to be so outspoken himself.
He fears his star striker could easily convince himself of the need to leave English football if his persecution complex is left to fester.
Yet the Liverpool manager is a leading advocate among modern coaches of an approach to the job that looks after players’ mental as well as physical health.
Rodgers said: “I can understand if he felt he couldn’t carry on in this country, if he felt like that in a moment of reflection.
“I know at this moment he’s visibly very disappointed. I look in his face and for the first time since I arrived here I see a guy – a genuine guy – who is bitterly disappointed.
“It was something he knows was clear, he knows what he did and he expected punishment, but he hoped he would be supported in a rehab process that allows him not to do it again.
“So it will take time for him to come to terms and understand why he’s been punished in this way.
“That will make you think, no question. But in a couple of days’ time when he is more reflective – because there’s a shock and anger at the moment – a sense of reality will set in.
“Once he feels he knows the support he has from the management and the club it will make him think differently.”
Rodgers is adamant he hasn’t even considered the prospect of his star player looking for a move.
Instead, he will make clear Suarez is still the foundation on which Liverpool will build their team – and rely on the close-knit nature of Merseyside to help him through his despair.
“For us now it’s a case of supporting him, He’s part of the Liverpool family and very much part of the future,” Rodgers added.
“Even though he’s not playing, he’s very important for us going forward in order for us to succeed.
“We will plan with Luis being here. There is no other thought in my mind – Luis is very much a player I believe will be here.”
* LIVERPOOL are plotting a summer switch for promising Portuguese centre-back Tiago Ilori, writes James Nursey.
The London-born 20-year-old plays for Sporting Lisbon and is available for £1.3million.
Pacy Ilori has broken the Lisbon sprint records of both Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Reds need a new stopper with Jamie Carragher due to retire.
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