New boy Maxi Rodriguez is confident of change in fortunes at Anfield

16 January 2010 07:30
New boy Maxi Rodriguez is confident of change in fortunes at Anfield[LNB]IN times of great adversity it often pays to have faith in the power of positive thinking and that message was broadcast loud and clear at Melwood yesterday.[LNB] Buy this photoRafa Benitez at the press conference Buy this photoRafa Benitez and Maxi Rodriguez Buy this photoRafa Benitez and Maxi Rodriguez Buy this photoRafa Benitez and Maxi Rodriguez Buy this photoRafa Benitez and Maxi Rodriguez Buy this photoMaxi Rodriguez speaks to the media at Melwood training ground. Buy this photoMaxi Rodriguez speaks to the media at Melwood training ground. Buy this photoRafa Benitez and Maxi RodriguezWhile Rafa Benitez attempted to defuse the tension by taking a piece of paper from his pocket and talking about facts - just as he did before Liverpool's trip to Stoke City last year - this time Alex Ferguson was not central to the plot.[LNB]Benitez, with a wry smile, simply illustrated the facts now facing Liverpool were poor form, a worrying position in the league table and an injury list containing three of his star players; whatever he has lost this season, clearly it is not his sense of humour.[LNB]So even though he was confronted by a battery of cameras, several television crews, a number of radio stations and a posse of journalists, Benitez kept his sangfroid, insisting results will turn, his latest acquisition was following a similar mantra.[LNB]Maxi Rodriguez could have been forgiven had he asked for his deal to renegotiated after watching Wednesday night's FA Cup debacle against Reading but, listening to him speak for the first time, there was no suggestion he regretted his move from Atletico Madrid.[LNB]If anything, Liverpool's new number 17 - who has signed a three-and-a-half year contract - is delighted to have swapped La Liga for the Premier League and is adamant that this sequence of results will prove temporary.[LNB]The Argentine international, you see, sought advice from two men he knows well - namely Fernando Torres and his compatriot Javier Mascherano; both urged him to look past Liverpool's recent form and survey the bigger picture.[LNB]With that in mind, then, it's no surprise to hear Rodriguez is itching to make his debut; whether that will be from the first whistle against Stoke City today, or as an impact performer from the bench, it doesn't matter - all he wants to do is help.[LNB]'Liverpool is a massive club but, as soon as they were mentioned to me, I didn't think twice,' said Rodriguez. 'It wouldn't be the start that everyone had dreamed of but all the players are convinced that we will turn things around.[LNB]'The main thing is to have a strong belief and a strong mentality. With a couple of results and a couple of victories, you will see this team start to climb the table and we will increase our belief and confidence. We will turn things around.

Source: Liverpool_Echo