Brendan Rodgers has dismissed the notion he could walk out on Liverpool, and has reiterated his desire to return the glory days to the club.
The former Swansea City coach replaced Kenny Dalglish in the Anfield hot-seat in the summer of 2012, and last season he came within two points of leading them to a first league title since 1990. The team that pipped the Reds to the crown, Manchester City, are struggling to keep pace with Chelsea this season, and this has cast Manuel Pellegrini’s position at the club in some doubt.
Should the Etihad Stadium club decide to part with the Chilean at the end of the season, which wouldn’t be that great a surprise after they dismissed Roberto Mancini in 2013 following a trophyless campaign, Rodgers has been mentioned as a potential successor. However, the Northern Irishman insists he is staying at Liverpool, who he hopes to lead to a host of silverware in the coming years.
“I’ve signed a deal here, and I want to be here to see that through,” he said. “Then I hope I’ll have earned enough time to warrant another deal, to keep growing and building here. Where do you go from Liverpool, who are one of the biggest clubs in the world? I chose to come to Liverpool because I hoped I could be here for many years. I find I am developing into the very best I can be.
“I really wanted to be here, follow some incredible managers with a support that is unrivalled, and to have success while knowing I was young enough to create and build something. That is why I came here. I know I need to justify that by working well and winning trophies. I hope that is the next step. When you come here, that is what you are judged on. It is something I want to do for people here.”
Liverpool are currently fifth in the Premier League table, just two points behind Manchester United with 10 matches of the campaign left to play. Their attention this weekend turns to Blackburn Rovers and the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, a competition they last won nine years ago when Steven Gerrard inspired Rafael Benitez’s side to a memorable victory over West Ham United.
