Mike Marsh: The big interview

As a player, Marsh was a talented creative midfielder and after graduating from the youth team went on to make more than 100 appearances in a red shirt before being sold, many say prematurely, to West Ham United in a swap deal for Julian Dicks in 1993.

After working at the Academy coaching the U16s and U18s during the past two seasons, a chance to work with the first team arrived when Brendan Rodgers invited the man from Kirkby on the pre-season tour of North America.

The new manager was looking for someone who knew the club inside and out and shared a passion for the Liver bird. Marsh was the man that fitted that criteria and after Rodgers offered him the role of first-team coach it was duly accepted.

In this exclusive chat with Marsh, the coach talks about his admiration for the new manager, his love of LFC and the progress of Raheem Sterling.

Mike, how did this move come about moving to Melwood from the Academy?

Initially it was due to the fact we had about 10 or 11 of the lads from the Academy training at Melwood due to the lads being away at the Euros. I went on the pre-season tour of North America and then on the way back the manager offered me the position.

What has the manager told you he wants from you?

He wants me to get involved as much as I can. I will work alongside the manager and Colin Pascoe and support them as best as I can.

The manager has said it is important for him to have people alongside him whose roots are in the city - how does that make you feel?

It makes me feel very proud. On my way into the interview I bumped into Phil Thompson who wished me all the best and told me to just do the best I can. I think it is important to have someone at the club who knows the history and what's expected.

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What has the manager asked you about the history and tradition of the club?

He's asked me one or two questions but he's got a lot of knowledge about what's going on here so he doesn't really need much help on that.

He says he's from the same bottle as the people from Liverpool - would you go along with that?

Yes, you know people from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Geordies - we're similar type of people, aren't we? I can see where he's coming from.

What do you understand his methods and vision for Liverpool FC to be?

Pretty similar to when we were successful. He has come in and wants the team to play football, which is music to my ears, really. It is a similar style of football to when we were winning trophies. The mood is very good. Everyone is excited and everyone wants to impress the new manager. It's a fresh start and everyone is upbeat.

Several of the Academy squad were involved in the tour. How proud did that make you to see them out there?

It was good of the manager. I don't  think it was necessary to take that amount of players but he wanted to have a look at them first hand. It was a great experience and it was great for me to see how well they handled themselves and conducted themselves in and around the place, as well as playing some really good stuff in the games.

How important do you think your connections with those lads and the other players at the Academy are going to be for Brendan Rodgers?

I think it will help the transition. It's unfortunate for ourselves that we are based over two sites so when they do come from Kirkby and train at Melwood the transition should be smoother, because they've got a familiar face in me if they need any questions answered.

They are all delighted for you at the Academy as well, aren't they?

Yes, I've had a lot of messages and well wishers and I've been a little bit overwhelmed with the good will I've had. I appreciate it.

What does it mean to players like Raheem Sterling, who you've worked with a lot -  are they fully involved with the first team or do they rely on you for a bit of help?

Raheem is fully involved. He doesn't need any help and he's a confident enough lad. He just comes in and gets on with his training. If you didn't know who he was you would just think he's a regular member of the first-team squad, so he's doing really well.

He got his first goal for the first team against Bayer Leverkusen - that must have been pleasing?

I was delighted for him. He's worked really hard in training and on his finishing. We have seen him in the reserves and know he can score goals and the excellent work he's been putting in has paid off for him.

What do you think Raheem needs to improve going forward this season?

He can improve all aspects of his game - he's only 17. The manager has said he has improved the defensive responsibilities of his game and so on but there's lots of areas where he can improve. He knows that and knows he's not the finished article but he's working on it.

You are obviously full-time now at Melwood. Will you miss working with the youth team?

I will, yes, and I've got a great affinity with all of the players based in Kirkby. I've got a great relationship with them all, but hopefully if they progress then I'll be seeing a lot more of them.

Do you have managerial aspirations of your own at first-team level one day?

I had a discussion with the manager a couple of days ago on this and I would say at this stage of my career I want to be a coach. As for management, further down the line that's something for me to think about.

What does it mean to be a first-team coach at Liverpool FC - your club?

It means everything - words can't describe it. Everywhere else it's a job and working here for me is a dream come true. I'm delighted and I will give it the best possible chance I can to be successful.

Could you have ever imagined you would make this progression so quickly in your coaching career?

No, I didn't. I got the chance to coach the U18s pretty quickly after working with the U16s, which I didn't expect, so I jumped the queue there. I did alright at U18 level and obviously I must have impressed somebody. I've been given the opportunity to work with the first team by Brendan Rodgers and I intend to make the most of it.

With making the progression from a Liverpool player to a coach and now being involved again with the first team, is there anyone around the squad you see following a similar path to you?

Carra's an obvious choice because he's very knowledgeable and coming to that stage of his career where he might have to decide what he wants to do for the rest of his life. As for the other lads, I don't really know them well enough to say whether they will stay in football or go into another walk of life.