Liverpool FC boss Brendan Rodgers admitted that the team didn’t have enough quality and leaders and sympathised with the fans’ frustration.
The Reds have had an extremely disappointing campaign, especially as it follows the high of one of their best in the Premier League era. Crashing out of the Champions League, then the Europa League, then to Aston Villa in the FA Cup Semi-final and now ensuring they are going to finish outside the top 4 next season certainly doesn’t match the expectations they had set for themselves, or at least the fans had. Add to that the fact that club legend Steven Gerrard is now just a week away from leaving the club.
The Northern Irishman said that Gerrard’s departure leaves a leadership void in the dressing room and the club would have to remedy it in the summer summer. He also spoke about the need to add quality in the squad, especially in the attack department.
a Thata s what we have to find a the answers to that,a said the Reds boss.
a You have to find the solutions. It is an incredible lot of experience, game management and quality gone out of the team but it is something we will find I am sure.
a Stevie has a huge influence in the changing room and a star quality. Of course it is something that will be missed, but if you want to be the big player at a club like this you have to step up and make the contribution in the big games.
a That is the idea next season. I am sure that will be the case.
a We have players with good character and if we can throw in some quality with that it is important.
a We need threat at the top end of the field because too many have disappeared for us, you only need to look at the number of goals.
a We have to find ways to get those goals back, the creativity and offensive threat while staying disciplined in our defending.a
Rodgers said that the fans were right to be frustrated.
a Listen, I can understand the supportersa frustration this season when you think of the journey we were on last year.
a The quality of the football and the game they were watching has not been there this season.
a As a supporter you want to turn up and see the team win and win well and at times that has not been the case.
a It is a big challenge for us so from a managera s perspective there is a sense of reality in what we lost but rightly so the supporters want to see the team improving.
a Thata s our job in the summer to replace and find the players who will make the difference.a