Rodgers: We're moving in right direction

21 November 2012 17:29

Brendan Rodgers feels the backing given to him by owners Fenway Sports Group helped get him through a difficult start to his career as Liverpool manager.

The Northern Irishman endured a tough induction as he replaced club icon Kenny Dalglish and having reached mid-October with just one Barclays Premier League victory he found everything from his suitability to his methods called into question.

Rodgers admitted patience is a rare commodity in football, but said: "If you believe in a manager and put him in place and give him time what has been proven in this country is that can lead to success."

He continued: "I think those early months were always going to be difficult; you are trying to instil and implement ideas initially without a great deal of success.

"Those early months could have been difficult but in terms of myself, players and staff we were very much focused on our job and there has been no change in ourselves, only improvement.

"I have been grateful to the board here because in order for me to come here that (support) was something which was going to be important because if we were going to keep the club moving in the right direction it was going to need some stability."

Liverpool seemed to have turned a corner in recent weeks and they are unbeaten in seven league matches. Despite defeat in Moscow a fortnight ago the Reds can also qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League should Udinese fail to beat Anzhi in Russia on Thursday and the Merseysiders defeat Young Boys a couple of hours later.

"I believe we are starting to show improvement and there is a real spirit and unity among us all," Rodgers said. "If we can stay like that and go through the pain together we can get out the other side and restore Liverpool to where it should be.

"It is an opportunity for us tomorrow night. If the other result goes with us we can navigate our way through the group. We will improve in the second half of the season, this group will get stronger, and it will be easier going forward once we have supplemented the group.

"I wanted to build a competitive group and that means competing at the top end (of the league table). That is where every team wants to be and for us it is no different."

Source: PA