Brendan Rodgers has called Brazil manager Dunga’s decision not to include Philippe Coutinho in his latest Brazil squad “incredible”.
The Liverpool midfielder has been left out of the squad, while 33-year-old Kaka, who says the Reds should build their team around Coutinho, made it in.
This decision comes to the displeasure of Rodgers, as he said: “Everything that I’d seen last season and the changes in the squad (indicated) that he was going to be one of the flagship players for the new dawn of Brazilian football.
“A young player who made the team of the season in the most competitive league in the world. How he cannot be in the squad is incredible really.
“I spoke to him at length on it. Of course he’s disappointed, but straight away his focus is on Liverpool. That was his thought.
“He’s a really humble boy and he’s a really proud man for his country. I’m sure he’ll pick up the form here he’s shown over the last 18 months and I’m sure it won’t be too long before he’s back in it.”
Coutinho will look ahead to the match on Monday where Liverpool host Premier League newboys Bournemouth.
His magic was on display last week as he delivered the Reds three points in the dying moments of the match.
Rodgers said about Coutinho: “It’s just consistency now and we’ve started to see that in his game.
“He’s the type of player that his numbers will be important. It’s about creating goals and scoring goals.
“That’s the level he wants to get to and the level he’s working hard to obtain.
“Like you see last week, he’s a player that’s got that magic that can win you a game of football out of nothing, and you’ve seen that over time how he’s adapted to life at this level.
“For me he’s only going to get better and better and that’s something that he’s starting to really show.”
