Rodgers has today admitted to feeling the pressure at Anfield at the moment
It was never likely that Brendan Rodgers was going to come right out and admit to feeling his job was under such immense scrutiny at present but, in his own way, he has indicated that he is under pressure to keep his job today.
Speaking at his pre Aston Villa press conference, via the Daily Mirror Rodgers said: “The pressure is huge but I embrace that challenge.
“I respect that we need to get results. One win and we’re back around top 4.
“We’ve created that expectancy here because of how we’ve worked. How do I block it out? I focus very much on the team.”
And while it’s true that, given the bizarre nature of a great many results this season so far, one result could very well see Liverpool move up several positions, that shouldn’t change the fact of the results achieved so far.
It is those results this season, and the steady decline last season, that have put Rodgers under such pressure, with the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp in the frame.
On those links, Rodgers said: “In terms of names linked, when manager of club this size there is always going to be speculation, especially when not winning.
“I have regular contact with the owners & that relationship is strong.
“No matter how much longer I’m here, I’ll have huge respect for them.”
Unfortunately for Brendan, as Liverpool’s fans have shown before, it is often the manager’s relationship with the fans that is most crucial and the fans have been making their feelings very clear to FSG in the past few weeks that that relationship has deteriorated very quickly.
In the meantime, looking ahead to a rare three o’clock kick-off tomorrow Rodgers has urged fans to get behind his ailing team and give them more time. He said: “I’d ask the fans to keep faith with the team. To stay with the team who are working tirelessly every day.”
And while the fans will always back the team, provided there is 100% effort on the pitch, the club, and especially the fans, can’t always be looking to the future, there has to be a ‘right now’ too. And with Liverpool currently in what feels like a third year of rebuilding under Rodgers, many are also tired with the excuses to give the player more time to gel, and so on.
How did you feel about Rodgers delayed press conference? Let us know your thoughts below and have a listen to a clip from the press conference below:
