Peter Henry
Brendan Rodgers, to be fair, is actually a much better coach then he gets credit for. The problem for the ex-Liverpool manager is that he talks such complete and utter bollocks at times, it’s just very difficult to like him or even take him seriously.
A man who is the very definition of the saying ” if he was a ice-cream, he’d lick himself,” Brendan has, however, left us with some absolutely OUTSTANDING soundbites over the years.
A spell in Scotland with Celtic saw the Norn Irishman rebuild his career after his sacking by Liverpool and he returns to Anfield today with his highly-rated Leicester City side. So we thought it the perfect time to look back at Brodge’s best/worst quotes…
“My biggest mentor is myself because I’ve had to study and that’s been my biggest influence.” The daddy of all Brendan Rodgers’ Quotes!
“I believe a young player will run through a barbed wire fence for you. An older player looks for a hole in the fence, he’ll try and get his way through it some way, but the young player will fight for you.”
“I will leave no stone unturned in my quest – and that quest will be relentless.”
“I’ve always worked along with the statistic that if you can dominate the game with the ball you have a 79% chance of winning the game.” Its sounds great doesn’t it ? There’s just one problem, there is zero, and we mean zero, factual evidence to back this claim up!
“We play with 11 men, other teams play with 10 men and a goalkeeper.”
“When we lost at Stoke last season I got home on Boxing Day night and family and guests were all around the house. I went straight upstairs to my room and didn’t come out.” We reckon your guests weren’t nearly as upset as you’d imagine Brendan!
“The problem with being a manager is it’s like trying to build an aircraft while it is flying.”
“If you spend more than £100 million, you expect to be challenging for the league.” This dig was aimed at Spurs after the Gareth Bale sale. Liverpool then spent £100 million the following summer and finished 6th!
“I started coaching for one reason and that was to make a difference for people, not just as footballers but as human beings.”
“The last 18 months we have been on a magic carpet ride of development but we still have a lot of growth to make.”
“I am the same guy who nearly won us the league, but better. I think I have shown in the early stages of my management – without being arrogant – that with a talented group of players I can compete at the top end of the league.”
“It’s not just about training players, it’s about educating players. You train dogs.”
“I don’t think there is anyone better, that is the reality of how I see it.” You really shouldn’t need us to tell you who Brendan is talking about here.
“After that opening 10 or 15 minutes, when they had a bit too much space behind our midfield, it was the near-perfect away performance.” After Liverpool lost 2-0 to Zenit St.Petersburg.
“I’ve always said that you can live without water for many days, but you can’t live for a second without hope.”
“He’s the Welsh Xavi” On Joe Allen.
“There are two points: the first is I don’t feel any pressure, I can honestly say that. I have never felt anything other than secure.” Brendan was sacked minutes later!
“I love to run on the streets around here. I love seeing the people going about their business. These are our people. I love running late in the afternoon, when the doors are open and the dinners are on, and you can smell the mince cooking.”
“What I say to the players is this: ‘The crown is on your head, my friend. You are the king of your destiny’”
“I use a quote with the players, “Per aspera ad astra”, which is Latin for ‘through adversity to the stars.” Oh, FFS Brendan !
Read: 10 of Michael Owen’s stupidest ever quotes
Read Also: 10 of Jamie Redknapp’s most idiotic quotes