Tribute to Rodgers’ project
Brendan Rodgers is a manager I have come to admire in the Premiership. It is not just his honesty and down-to-earth manners on the touch-line that I admire in him, but his tactics as well. Last season, he came close to winning the Premiership. The departure of Luis Suarez robbed the team of its attacking potency. A long injury lay-off to Daniel Sturridge added more blunt to their attacking set-up.
However, despite these challenges, Liverpool have climbed to a position in the premiership where although they are not favourites for the title, it is a position of respectability. Liverpool are now on fifth position with 51 points. They can dream of Champions League football as they are close to fourth-placed Man United on 53 points and third-placed Arsenal on 54 points.
The team has regained its high tempo pressing game with Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling, Jordan Ibe and Joe Allen providing the creative force behind Sturridge and Adam Llalana. Henderson has shown he is a natural replacement for Steven Gerrard. He has matured quickly and added flair to his game with a touch of spectacular and important goals. The belter against Man City and another 30-metre drive against Burnely—in two consecutive matches—is a case in point.
He is not the most talented player, but he gives the manager 100+ contribution. He has the energy to defend and attack the whole 90 minutes. He is also comfortable in many positions. The rise of Liverpool is down to Rodgers sticking to his philosophy. He has never wavered even in times when everyone doubted his project. Before the start of the season he bought numerous players, a development many said was not good. It was like starting a new team. But now the team has blended. Although they exited the Europa League, they are still in the FA Cup where they play Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-finals.
On the other hand, United’s coach Luis Van Gaal (LVG) is yet to adapt to the English league. His tactics are not working. In every game, he is using players in wrong positions. It would appear even his backroom staff is not impressed. There are suggestions that there is a rift between him and Ryan Giggs after the assistant manager did not celebrate United’s late winner against Newcastle despite Van Gaal prompting him with a tap on the shoulders, he remained tight-lipped. On Thursday, The Daily Telegraph asked: “Has Ryan Giggs lost patience with LVG’s philosophy at Manchester United?’
But that is typical of the British media. It would appear they have set up their own agenda against LVG and the fans to look at things from their own perspective. For me, Van Gaal needs more time to find his first XI and make that team play the way he wants.
United are also in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and if United beat Arsenal on Monday and progress to the semi-finals, it will be welcome news to me as a United supporter, I am looking forward to this match.
Congratulations are in order to the Capital One champions Chelsea although their coach lacks modesty. Previously, we used to say Capital One is a Mickey Mouse cup, but with teams now owned by billionaires who are hungry for trophies, the Capital One is a major trophy.
