Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Liverpool's ambitions do not end with fourth place in the Barclays Premier League as his mission to secure Champions League football continues. The Reds finished in seventh place at the conclusion of the Northern Irishman's maiden season at the helm, ending the campaign with an undefeated streak of eight fixtures. That momentum has been carried into 2013-14, with two league victories out of two and progress into the third round of the Capital One Cup secured so far. "We're not entering the league just to be fourth," Rodgers told Robbie Savage for the BBC's Football Focus programme. "Winning the league is about the best team not just the best players. That's our challenge. "It's important for Liverpool to be up there; I think it's important for football for Liverpool to be there because this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. But it doesn't give you a divine right. "We obviously had a hard start last season in terms of games, and the players coming back late to pre-season. That took us a wee bit of time to get going. "But from the turn of the year, since January, we've been very strong. We're getting that consistency back. "This year is a big year for us. I signed here for three years and the objective was, certainly in the third year, to be somewhere near challenging for the Champions League." Liverpool's improved form during the second half of 2012-13 coincided with the January signings of striker Daniel Sturridge and attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho. The boss continued: "Daniel Sturridge - that was a great piece of business by the club because, for me, he'll end up being one of the top European strikers over the next few years as long as he keeps his focus and keeps that work ethic. "The likes of young Coutinho, they just need to play in a certain team and a certain style to show their qualities otherwise people might say he's too small. But he's got wonderful vision and touch." The Reds will put their 100 per cent start on the line when reigning champions Manchester United visit Anfield on Sunday - a match the 40-year-old is keenly anticipating. "Over many years Liverpool v Manchester United was the game everyone watched on the television, with all the great players of the generations there," Rodgers added. "Liverpool dominated it for many years. The passion for the game is still there. Obviously they are the champions and we're fighting to catch them." http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/143949-br-it-s-important-we-re-up-there
No point entering anything unless you aim to win it. He didn't say we would, that's the difference. Nothing wrong with those comments imo.
That's why I put 'sort of', least he didn't say we would achieve a certain goal. He said we are aiming how and went to right way about it
Agree, nout wrong with that. Ai for first, then if you fail by 1 or 2 places, still got top 4. Aim for 4th and fail, and you get nothing
Yyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss Brendan. [video=youtube;ztF-2mycS6U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztF-2mycS6U[/video]
Arsenal fans ought to read this Absolutely BR, lets go for it We are improving and as long as we get the players in we've been linked with then i'll be happy (Sacks, Llori, Given and Moses ) See where we're in Jan, we need a dm and wouldve liked us to go for Barry but oh well He did an analogy somewhere (cant find it now) at us picing up 2 points less than Utd or something since Jan? Pretty good going
If you watch his face when he's asked he's clearly thinking 'oh god I have to make a positive lie for the cameras'. Complete and utter non story.
Watched the interview on football focus. Thought he handled the questions very well, he was asked whether he thinks we can challenge for the premier league in the next few years. He basically said thats the ambition but never gave any promises it would happen. If the ambition was to finish 4th every year I would be dissapointed, up until 2010 it was the minimum requirement not the goal.
As said above "What else do we want him to say?". Any manager at LFC should be aiming to build a league winning team. In the current climate that will take time. As much as Brenda has a tendency to waffle I think in this instance he's saying exactly the right thing. I'd much rather our manager waffled in a positive way than in a negative way (yes you Woy). We can't compete by throwing a hundred million around so we have to do it over time. I don't know if Rodgers can do it, none of us do. Yes I'm critical of certain things he's done but it's a ****ing tough job and even tougher for a young inexperienced manager. Whether we'd brought in a Rodgers type or an Ancellotti type manager they'd have needed time so inspite of some glaring errors and a fair amount of hot air the guy deserves a chance to learn and build a team that truly reflects his and the clubs personality. Edit....but if we lose today I want him gone
I thought he came across well tbh. I like the fact he mentioned that we do have money but we are finding it difficult to attract players because we're not in the Champs League. It was honest, and now we look set to sign a few good players too. Pleased
