SOCCER:ROY HODGSON has launched an impassioned defence of his credentials as Liverpool manager and insisted New England Sports Ventures recognise that he "inherited a very bad situation" and requires time to implement a revival. He conceded, however, that Liverpool's awful start to the season is liable to leave him under pressure for several months to come.
The Liverpool manager returns to Anfield tomorrow for the first time since a home defeat by Blackpool prompted the Kop to chant for Kenny Dalglish and for a confrontation with Blackburn Rovers, a club he has managed, that he described as a “must-win game”.
Hodgson was forced to quash rumours that he considered resigning following Thursday’s Europa League tie against Napoli, where the gamble to leave Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and others behind was rewarded with a much-improved display.
Hodgson has been clearly riled by criticism in recent weeks but appeared emboldened by the performance in Italy. The 63-year-old accepts intense scrutiny comes with the job of Liverpool manager and will not deter him from the long-term task of justifying NESV’s €340 million outlay on the club.
“I find it sad that people write the most ridiculous things on websites, like I’m having fights with Torres or others,” he said.
“Someone told me yesterday a website had me falling out with the rest of the staff, now they’ve got me resigning. I’d just say to the fans, of course keep reading the websites, but I wouldn’t take it too seriously if I were you. I am here to try and get Liverpool back to where the club belongs, no matter what they are saying about me. I’m not going to do it overnight, especially now after a bad start.”
John W Henry and Tom Werner, the principal investor and chairman of NESV respectively, were present as Liverpool slipped to defeat at Goodison Park last weekend and to 19th in the Premier League table.
Hodgson has spoken to the owners since the game and revealed: “The owners said they give me their full backing. They said I have inherited a very bad situation. That is what they think. And they think I’m the man to put it right.
“I think I am the right man to put it right. I was manager of the year two and a half months ago, and you don’t suddenly become someone who has lost all confidence in two and a half months. I’ve taken on a difficult job, a club that needs a lot of sorting out, there are a lot of things to do, and unfortunately I haven’t had a very good start.”
Liverpool’s performance in Naples with a makeshift side was, Hodgson believes, evidence his methods and instruction are beginning to take root.
“The players who came in against Napoli have thrown down a gauntlet in a sense, saying to the ones who were rested, ‘Now you follow suit’,” he said. “We saw a group of players in Naples who are beginning to come to terms with what we need to do to get results, how we need to play, how we need to be organised on the field. I thought it was a much better organised performance than some we have given.”
Hodgson admits three points against Blackburn would not alleviate the anxiety around Anfield, with him and the team only one disappointing result away from another inquest.
He said: “The fact is, when you have started as badly as we have, then unfortunately every game you play over the next couple of months is going to be a massive game.”
