Rodgers: I'll fight for you

The Northern Irishman gave his first press conference in the Anfield trophy room on Friday morning after being appointed as Kenny Dalglish's successor.

He outlined his philosophy to get Liverpool playing attacking, entertaining football like that executed by Swansea last season.

But he insisted that patience would be required.

Rodgers told the media: "This is a long-term project. It's a project over a number of years. 

"First and foremost I want to defend the principles of this great club which is about offensive, creative football, with tactical discipline. 

"The history of the club was the attraction. Also, the frustrations - it's been nearly 20 years since they've won the league title.

"And the realism is that we might not be ready for the title now but the process begins today and it's a new cycle. That's something we'll work towards in the years to come.

"I've come here hoping Liverpool will be the destination (for me). Liverpool is a club that if you have success and improve the team, hopefully you can be here for many years and that's the idea for arriving here.

"I'm really looking forward to moving here to the city with my family and understanding more about life up north and in Liverpool, which is a really vibrant city - and, of course, I'm looking forward to managing the football club.

"(Whether I'll be here longer than my contract) is about results and the progress of the team.

"All I'll ever do is all I've ever done in any job, and that's promise to fight for my life for the supporters and the people of the city."

Watch the video here »

Journalists put it to Rodgers that he would have to work to impress the supporters here at Liverpool.

He replied: "When I arrived at Swansea it was pretty much similar. I'd come off a period at Reading where it didn't quite work out. 

"But I was realistic - I didn't want to make any false promises. I'm a realist and I'll always give my life to the football club and trying to represent the city as best as I possibly can. Hopefully over time I'll earn that respect."

At 39, Rodgers is the youngest appointee to the Anfield dugout since Graeme Souness, but the man himself does not see inexperience as an issue.

"My pathways as a young coach and manager have been different to most," he said. "Even though I'm young in age, I've actually been coaching and working in football for nearly 20 years. 

"I think what really helped me was the fact that I had four-and-a-half fantastic years at Chelsea, where I had the experience of working with big players. 

"In terms of age, I'd say look at Kenny Dalglish. He was the manager here at 34 and he resigned at 39. In that period he won two leagues and two FA Cups. So, I arrive here at 39, maybe young in age but with experience in terms of the game."

One difference for Rodgers at Liverpool will be the calibre of players at his disposal - not that he is daunted by working with top internationals.

Our new gaffer operated under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and so has plenty of experience of dealing with high-profile players.

"Footballers are footballers, they want to learn, they want to be educated and want to improve," he said. "That's something that I've done with all types of player, young and senior, throughout my career.

"It's about people, for me it doesn't matter where people are in terms of status. I always take them as human beings. I never judge anyone; I never look at their status. For me, whether you're a League Two player or a top Premier League player, it's about respect. 

"And I've carried that respect through from working with kids to some of the biggest players in the world. 

"For me the idea is very much the same as it's always been. It's very much about earning respect and I've always done that. I've had to do that. That's been my life. I was never the big player; I had to go down a different route which was about being on the coaching field and earning my respect that way. But also as a human being and treating people with the values and the morals that I would expect to be treated with."

Following Dalglish's departure last month, Rodgers made it public that he would not take part in the initial round of interviews for the Liverpool job.

He explained what changed: "I spoke to the chairman at Swansea and I've always said if I left Swansea City it would be for a top cub and I would have to be that club's number one choice. And at that time I was in a process. I was happy at Swansea, I wasn't crying to leave. But obviously when Liverpool came in for a second time and said I was the number one choice then I had to think seriously about it.

"I spoke to the chairman Huw Jenkins, who is a fantastic man -  we had a great working relationship there and a close personal relationship, and he gave me permission to speak to Liverpool. Once I found out I was number one from the important people at Liverpool, then it was quite an easy decision."

Rodgers also spoke of his great respect for his former employers and Wales as a country.

Quizzed on whether he would return to the Liberty Stadium to look for players, he answered: "The only time I want to talk about Swansea today is to give them thanks - and to the nation of Wales, because my time there with the media and the people has been incredible.

"It was a really special two years for me at Swansea City. We created history by becoming the first Welsh team to gain promotion to the Barclays Premier League. 

"It's a sad day to leave Swansea, of course, because I have so many friends there. What we created has been incredible, really. I've got huge respect for them as a football club and as people. 

"It's a fantastic club that I'm sure will keep progressing because of the model they have and the chairman."

Rodgers was also asked what kind of reaction there had been back home in Northern Ireland to his appointment as Liverpool manager.

He said: "I'm very proud to be Liverpool manager. I'm only the second Northern Irish manager (after John McKenna) in the history of the club. It's a club with wonderful tradition and I feel very blessed with the opportunity to come and manage here. 

"I think the ferries will now be coming across and the planes will be packed out. They normally are anyway. But no, obviously Liverpool is a massive club in the north and south of Ireland and that was part of the attraction of coming here - it's a worldwide football club with an incredible tradition.

"I just can't wait to get started and to get to work."