“I am not being unrealistic, because if we play like we did in a
lot of games last season, but be clinical and take our chances, we
will be higher up the table,” insists the Reds captain
Steven Gerrard claims Liverpool will “definitely” make
the top four under new boss Brendan Rodgers next
season.
The Reds skipper has seen enough after just two days on the
pre-season trip to America to predict a bright future for the
Anfield club with the Irishman in charge.
It is a remarkable prediction given Liverpool’s desperate form
last season which saw them finish 17th in the form table over the
second half of the campaign.
It is even more remarkable given that Gerrard is never anything
but brutally honest about the club’s prospects.
His optimism is based on what he has seen at close hand after
joining Rodgers for the first time to get a crash course in the
tactical revolution planned for Anfield.
Gerrard arrived in Boston late on Monday night, too late to even
be considered for the friendly game against Roma on Wednesday, where Liverpool offered some
encouraging signs in a 2-1 defeat.
Yet the England captain already feels a different mood around
the place and can sense a real enthusiasm for the new manager’s
approach among battle-scarred troops wearied and bloodied by last
season’s grim failures.
“We’ll definitely see a much bolder and exciting Liverpool
team,” he said after watching the Roma game. “Every time you speak
to the manager you can’t help but be impressed by his vision. And
his man-management is fantastic.
'You can’t help but be impressed by his vision': Steven Gerrard
says Brendan Rodgers is going to transform Liverpool
“I’m realistic after last season, I don’t want to make
excuses for that. I don’t think it’s ever happened for a team to
have gone from eighth to first.
“But there’s still other big targets for us to achieve – like
getting in that top four again, that’s certainly the priority.
“I honestly think we will get in the top four. I am not being
unrealistic, because if we play like we did in a lot of games last
season, but be clinical and take our chances, we will be higher up
the table.”
Given the depths Liverpool sometimes plumbed during the second
half of the league campaign, many fans would be hard pressed to
share that optimism.
Yet Gerrard has long been of the belief that there is a quality
within the Liverpool squad, that needs to be encouraged in the
right way to adopt a bolder, more ambitious tactical philosophy.
And he believes Rodgers is just the man to do that.
“Over the years, sometimes Liverpool have come up against a
certain type of opposition and we have shown them too much
respect,” he explained.
“Maybe we have had to do that, because of the style we’ve been
asked to play. There were times under previous managers when we did
that, but I think this manager is the opposite, he wants us to play
like a big team.
“There is a lot of hard work and a lot of learning to be done
sharpish if we want to implement that straight away.
“We’ll definitely see a much bolder Liverpool team, but with a
quick transition into organisation when we lose the ball.”
It says much for Rodgers that he has already been able to win
over such battle-hardened veterans as Jamie Carragher and Daniel
Agger, who have spoken out in impressed support of their new
boss.
Another fan of the new boss: Jamie Carragher is looking forward
ot playing under Rodgers
And now Gerrard has joined the party. “It’s not just
been these last few days that I’ve had a chance to learn about the
new manager because he’s been in touch with me since he came,” he
said.
“I’ve had a lot of banter with text messages and quite a few
calls throughout the Euros, and he has made me aware of where he’s
at and what he’s trying to do – I’ve been really impressed with
him.
“I’ve only seen him on the training ground for a few days. But
as a guy, how he’s dealt with me on a personal level, I’ve been
very impressed.
“The players who’ve worked with him over the past few weeks have
said the same.”
I LOL when I read this. its just like saying, england going to
win the European championship and world cup LOL.
gerrard must be delusional or optimist that liverpool will
finish in the top 4 come next May. liverpool will struggle to even
finish top 6, never mind top 4.
