No rift with Hodgson, says Agger

21 September 2010 16:36
iverpool defender Daniel Agger says he has no issues with manager Roy Hodgson's tactics and will continue to fight for his place in the team.[LNB] Reports in Agger's homeland of Denmark appeared to suggest the defender, who has had to fill in as emergency left-back on occasions with Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel the preferred central pairing, did not agree with the style of play under the new Reds boss.[LNB]However, the 25-year-old claims his comments, given to a Danish television station after Sunday's 3-2 defeat at Manchester United, were subsequently misrepresented by newspapers in his home country.[LNB]"I am very disappointed with the papers in Denmark for the way they have done this story," he said.[LNB]"I spoke to Danish TV after the game on Sunday and answered the questions that were put to me. I didn't speak to the papers.[LNB]"The problem was the questions never appeared on TV, only the answers did, and then the newspapers put their own questions in.[LNB]"What came out was 100% wrong and that is why I am very disappointed."[LNB]The reports suggested Agger was at odds over a long-ball policy which was being implemented by Hodgson.[LNB]But the centre-back said it was his interviewer - not his manager - who had put forward the idea of pumping passes forward.[LNB]"The TV journalist asked me what I needed to do to get back into the team and suggested I should start hitting more long balls," he added.[LNB]"I said I wouldn't do that because I'm not that kind of player. That's where that quote came from.[LNB]"I actually think we play good football and that we have showed that against Manchester United and against Arsenal.[LNB]"What I don't understand is that it was only a few days ago when I spoke to the media ahead of the Steaua Bucharest game and said everybody at the club was happier now with the new manager, the new players and the new methods.[LNB]"It's strange to read this just a few days later but that's the way the media works, especially in Denmark.[LNB]"I have been involved in every [Premier League] game this season. Of course I'm disappointed when I'm not in the team, but I have been here for five years and really like it here.[LNB]"I wouldn't have stayed for this long if I didn't like it or if I was unhappy. I am still happy and will keep fighting for my place."

Source: Team_Talk