Rodgers: I couldn't say no to LFC
Brendan Rodgers admits it was with a heavy heart he left Swansea City in the summer – but insists the opportunity to become manager of Liverpool Football Club was one he simply could not refuse.
The Northern Irishman took over at the Anfield helm in June after two years with the Welsh club, during which time he guided them into the Barclays Premier League.
And ahead of his first meeting with Swansea since leaving the Liberty Stadium, Rodgers has explained why he simply could not say no to the Reds.
"Leaving there was really difficult," said the manager. "I'd had my fingers burnt before. I'd been at Watford, a club where I was really happy and we'd been progressing really well. I went to Reading and didn't have the best experience.
"Part of my reflection was that when I went to a club, it couldn't be just about the club, but the right club and the right chairman.
"There are a lot of clubs in this country I couldn't go and work for because of the philosophy I have, as that wouldn't be the norm.
"I chose then to go to Swansea and it was the perfect fit, a hand in glove fit. I had two incredible years, we created history as a club, the players were brilliant and very receptive to the ideas, and we had success.
"Obviously I had built up a close relationship with the supporters, socially my family was happy and I knew I was in a good place.
"I was 39 years of age and hoped to be in the game for the next 25 years so I wasn't in a hurry to leave, as I knew very few clubs would understand my way of working. That was the dilemma."
Rodgers added: "In terms of the club it was a no brainer because it's Liverpool Football Club, but I was going to be saying goodbye to really good people.
"I'd had a tough time personally off the field, my parents died in that period, and I had great support in that time, so there was a real emotional attachment there as well.
"But the professional challenge was too great. Of course it was disappointing to leave, but on the other hand I knew I was coming to one of the biggest clubs in the world. I was walking into a club which hopefully could be a destination for me for many, many years to come."
While Rodgers admits he's looking forward to getting a chance to meet with some familiar faces tonight, he's keen to stress there will be no room for sentiment come kick off as Liverpool look to move into the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup.
He said: "First and foremost, professionally, we want to get through to the quarter-finals. We have an opportunity to play at Anfield and progress in the competition.
"It will also be good to see people. I had some fantastic professional and personal experiences at Swansea. It's a result I always look out for because I will always want them do well.
"But we want to win this game. For 90 minutes our job is to focus and concentrate. Sentiment won't get in the way of that."