Rodgers - Conceding in victories cost us

After watching his side defeat Shamrock Rovers 4-0 in Wednesday evening’s friendly at the Aviva Stadium Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers spoke of his delight at being back in Ireland for a game.

“It’s always a pleasure to come back to Ireland,” he said. “We had a great time here when we came pre-season. It is a great finish to what has been a great season for us. Shamrock Rovers are into their season; they’re a good side. It was good for me to see some of their young players that I had; Robert Bayly I had as a kid when he came over on trial when I was Academy Director at Reading, great to see him. Simon Madden as well, I’d known; a good evening all round.”

Down through the years there has been a strong connection between Ireland and Liverpool with several players from this island donning the famous red jersey. In recent years that has declined. Rodgers believes the difference between now and the 70s, 80s and 90s is the amount of foreign players who ply their trade in England.

He believes that Irish players can still make the grade: “I think they can. It’s obviously a lot more difficult. I think back then the game was more British based players. There are talented players there but now the Barclay’s Premier League is the most competitive league in the world. Over 63% are foreign players. I think it’s the same for the British players, it’s the opportunity, and it’s getting that chance, if they are professional enough and if they are devoted to their life.”

The Liverpool boss admitted that for young Irish players wanting to come across the water preparation is essential: “I think with a lot of Irish boys that come over, they struggle, they miss home and then they come back early. I think it’s about that education before they come over. A lot of them start their apprenticeship at 16 and even then it’s too late. The boys across the water are beginning at 8 years of age.

“By the time they get to 16 they’ve been trained technically, tactically, physically and mentally and they are ready to step in to full time football. There is no doubt of the talent. The talent hasn’t disappeared. It’s about the professionalism and determination to want to be a player.”

As expected a lot of the focus of Rodgers’ press conference was the season that just finished. He believes Liverpool can go one better next season after coming so close this year.

“I think the physiological impact is only a positive one, it’s not a negative one. We will enter into next season with the belief that we can win the title. What has given me greater belief is people talk about the pressure of the title; in 14 games we won 12. We claimed 37 points out of 42. That’s a remarkable statistic for a very young team. The last game was a difficult one.

“We felt that Man City would win their game and we weren’t so good in the first half but in the second half we got our flow in the game; got our intensity back. The Chelsea game was a disappointment and people will focus on those games. I look more to the games that we won that actually cost us in the end; where we won 5-3, can’t score five goals and concede three. Those goals conceded; add it up. We have gone remarkably close this year, we expect now next year to go one better,” Rodgers said.

Although they failed to claim their first title in 24 years Rodgers was proud of what Liverpool achieved. He came to Liverpool with a plan and he feels it’s coming along nicely.

“The disappointment didn’t last too long, to be honest. I said to the players on the Sunday before the game ‘whatever happens we would celebrate an incredible journey we’ve been on this season’ and on the Sunday night we had a great party. Any disappointment had disappeared. Our actual focus was on this game because we needed to focus on here. My overriding feeling is of pride. Liverpool Football Club the restoration when I came in two years ago was to get Liverpool back to become one of the leading clubs in Europe again.”

Rodgers ended the press conference with a few thank yous. A gesture that went down well with the assembled press.

“On behalf of ourselves here, the football club, is a massive thank you. I think to come over here hopefully we put on a show and showed that we respected it. We had three players who weren’t fit; Coutinho, Daniel Agger and Martin Skertel but we wanted to offer the respect to the organisers and we took them over. They were out on the pitch during the game and walking around. As you can expect the World Cup guys are getting ready for a very important tournament but everyone else that was fit and available was here. We really appreciate the support and thank you very much and enjoy your summer.”