Brendan Rodgers has faced the press earlier this afternoon, as his side’s FA Cup semi-final looms. Rodgers talks about the need to win a trophy and adding himself onto a long-list of managers who have had previous success with the Reds.
“It’s a very long list of managers here that have been very successful in different eras and different times.”
“Hopefully, I’ll be judged on my time here – however long that is – on that we’ve worked well and a part of that will be having won trophies.”
“It’s one game at a time and we have to get over a very difficult game against Aston Villa before we can even think of that.”
“The players are in good form and a good moment now. We’ll look forward to the game.”
This isn’t Rodgers’ first time at Wembley, though. He managed Swansea when they were promoted to the Premier League through the play-offs.
“I’d only been a manager a short time, but certainly being there with Swansea was a special game and a game I will always say will be my biggest game. It’s a life-changing game, the play-off final.”
The boss was also talking about Steven Gerrard’s return to the side and the importance of the Liverpool captain.
“He’s definitely ready. We played a behind-closed-doors game here on Monday, which he and a few others that have been out played in.”
“Steven’s fine. The most important thing is his availability. He’s a special footballer, Steven, and Wembley is somewhere he knows very well. So whether he plays or doesn’t play, he’ll be a very important member of the squad for us on the day.”
“He’s a special player. He still is. He’s been, throughout his time here, an incredible player who has, in the main, in the big games, produced big goals and big moments.”
Rodgers was also asked about the opposition and their new manager in Tim Sherwood.
“Tim has gone in and done well – he’s brought a new leadership to the group and they have responded. They’re still fighting down there. They got a really good result last week.”
“I like Tim – he’s very passionate. He’s on of few British coaches working at the level and we always seem to have to fight that bit harder to prove our worth and he’s certainly doing that and doing very well.”
Aston Villa have proved to be a bit of a tough outfit to face in recent years for the Reds – especially at Anfield. Rodgers says lessons have been learned, though.
“If I analyse the home games, we’ve been probably caught on the counter-attack a number of times. We conceded a poor goal when we lost 1-0 at home from a corner and that was a disappointing result.”
“But away from home, it’s always been totally different. We’ve always, in the main, controlled the game and played well.”
“We’ve controlled the counter-attacks and put in a good performance. Of course, it’s a different arena, a different type of game and Tim’s done well since he has gone in.”
