Borrell: Time to step up

The U21s head coach declared himself 'quite pleased' with his youngsters' progress to date this season but warned that improvement is required when the team take on the Germans on Wednesday.

"The lads need to realise that they have to step up in order to play these games," Borrell, whose charges were beaten 3-2 by Inter Milan in their first NextGen encounter of the campaign, told Liverpoolfc.com.

"It's also good experience and a good learning curve in terms of understanding that when you're going to be under strength in terms of age, you need to make a perfect approach from a tactical and motivational point of view.

"The teams that decide to be in the NextGen know they have something to show, they know they are good or more than good enough.

"Borussia Dortmund, in my experience in all my years in my career in the youth system, with Bayer Leverkusen are the best club in terms of developing youngsters.

"They are quite strong, like all the Germans, but you can see the first team of Borussia Dortmund. They also play very good football, very pacy and quite attractive. It's going to be a tough game."

The Spaniard has previously nurtured talents such as Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom, all of whom have earned promotions to the senior squad under Brendan Rodgers.

Seeing the trio's success will provide inspiration to his current crop of hopefuls according to Borrell, who paid tribute to Rodgers for putting faith in young talent.

"I am quite pleased - I think the players are developing constantly," he continued. "We are trying to push them really hard in all of the ways - physically, technically, tactically, psychologically.

"We need to go through step by step getting more lads prepared if one day Brendan decides to give them an opportunity.

"As a manager I can develop the players, but without a manager in the first team who has such big belief in the youngsters it would not be possible.

"Everything helps - the Academy have to make all the effort in order to put them at a level that suddenly they can join the first team and that they believe in the players.

"It is a massive boost for all of the players that are working here because it's visible that if you perform, improve, have focus, determination and also qualities, then you are going to have a chance.

"It makes it visible for the lads that it is very close and they might get the opportunity - which is great."

Just five days after their European adventure, Borrell's U21s return to familiar territory for a vital game with Wolves in the Barclays U21 Premier League.

The Reds are unbeaten in seven fixtures this season and lead Wolves by three points at the summit of National Group 3, and the coach is anticipating a difficult evening on Monday.

Borrell added: "Wolves are a very tough side, very physical. They might be the most experienced side of the league in terms of almost all of the players are in this age of U21. The rest of the sides are a mixture of U21, U20, U19.

"They are physically very strong, they are also very difficult to break down tactically. They showed that against us here at home, they got a draw in the first fixture.

"They also beat Chelsea at home a week ago - they are a very good side and a very tough game.

"But first of all we are going to think about Borussia Dortmund, then when we are back we will think about Wolves for Monday. From Friday we will start to think about Wolves."

The meeting with Wolves will take place at Molineux, usually the home ground for the senior side, an element Borrell believes is particularly important for developing young prospects.

"One of the best things in this competition is that it allows you to play in such an historical and big stadium," the coach explained.

"The lads get closer to reality, even though they don't play in front of a massive crowd.

"The stadium and the lights when they play at 7pm motivate any player at such a young age. It is a great experience for the players and myself as a coach.

"It is a great opportunity once again, like we did at Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace when we played in the main stadium."