Rodgers outlines Liverpool vision
Brendan Rodgers today reflected on the first day of pre-season training and explained how he pitched his football vision to Liverpool's returning squad and his approach to moving the club forward.
The 39-year-old met a selection of players at Melwood for the first time on Wednesday when those who had not been on international duty during the summer returned to begin preparations for 2012-13.
"The last couple of days were really about painting the vision so that people understand what direction we're moving in," Rodgers revealed to Liverpoolfc.com in an exclusive interview at the club's training complex.
"We had a really good meeting with the staff on Tuesday. I just felt it was important from the very first day with the staff they understand how I work, my values and morals on and off the field.
"Then obviously for the players it's about what I can do to help them achieve what it is they want to achieve, and let them understand the principles of how I'm going to work and look at the direction which the club is moving in."
Although Rodgers has already spoken with the likes of skipper Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Luis Suarez, the new manager was keen to imprint his beliefs into the players who were in attendance for his first training session.
"They understand where I'm coming from, from day one, which is important," the Northern Irishman continued.
"There's no mystery behind it, they understand the vision and the culture that we're trying to create here. We can now move forward in confidence and look to work hard and work well."
Rodgers was appointed Liverpool boss on June 1, but due to the summer break had to wait until yesterday to begin working with his new players at Melwood.
Now the self-confessed 'lover of football' cannot wait to get started out on the training pitch and is keenly anticipating the chance to analyse the talent at his disposal.
He said: "I've got good awareness of a lot of the players here but you are always surprised when you see people from the outside and then look in. It's only really when you come in to work with them day in, day out you start to understand their character and personality before the technical and tactical aspect.
"That's something I'm really looking forward to because I'm sure there are players here who will surprise me, which is always nice.
"The natural environment is on the green grass, that's where we'll do a lot of our work. Thankfully that will start today and the players can look forward to working well."
Rodgers admitted that some additions may be made to the Reds' squad before the new Barclays Premier League season begins against West Bromwich Albion on August 18, but stressed that any potential signings must 'fit the model'.
"I've got a bunch of wonderful players here," he added. "I'm going to take time to have a look at that. I believe there's one or two areas that I'll need to improve on for sure, but overall the core of the group is strong.
"But like any manager, you want to add the other pieces that can complete your jigsaw and that's something that we're doing over a period of time.
"This window for the summer, you either had to get your business in early or it was going to run over towards the end of the window, just purely because of all the games and holidays and championships and everything that was going on.
"We're doing a lot of work off the field in terms of potential players to come in, but it will only be a certain type of player that will fit the model here at Liverpool."
One player who will not be making his way to Anfield is midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who featured for Rodgers at Swansea during the second half of last season and completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week.
"Gylfi did fantastic for me at Swansea last season," said the boss. "He wasn't playing at Hoffenheim, I brought him to Swansea and he did very well for me there, scored seven goals in 19 games and was very, very good.
"He and I both sat and spoke and believed that playing football was going to be the most important aspect for him. But obviously it was important financially so we agreed a deal for him to go to Swansea and that was wrapped up.
"I then became the Liverpool manager, and that then wasn't something that was going to happen at Swansea. So he then had a choice of where he wanted to go. I knew what the market was and I wasn't prepared to pay anything over what I had known was agreed before.
"Liverpool would have provided Gylfi with a wonderful opportunity to perform with a manager that he knows and at a club which is a real footballing institution.
"But he's decided to go to Tottenham, for whatever reason. I wish him the best, he's a good kid and there's no ill feeling. We've got other targets and we'll move on."
Positivity was the overwhelming message being preached by the manager, who offered an insight into how his working day begins and where he finds his inspiration.
Rodgers said: "I find it all very inspiring, from the minute I drive through and walk through the door. You see the little bust of Bill Shankly, you walk in every day and walk past the European Cup.
"It's a great and wonderful motivation for me as a young manager. It gives me great pride. It's an absolute privilege for me to be the manager of this club and I hope to repay the faith of the owners and the people for everything they have given me so far."