Coach happy with 'difficult decision'
New Liverpool U18s boss Neil Critchley has revealed how his 'difficult decision' to leave Crewe Alexandra for our Academy is paying dividends already.
The 34-year-old had been academy director at Crewe since 2007, before being announced as the new man in charge of the Reds' U18s earlier this month.
Critchley's tenure kicked off with a 4-2 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday, but the youngsters have nevertheless made an immediate positive impression on their new manager.
He said: "I'm delighted to be here. When I first heard Liverpool wanted me to come it was a mixture of emotions. I was proud and excited, but I also knew that it would be a difficult decision.
"When you've been at Crewe for a large period of your life like I had it was difficult to leave. Now I've made the decision, I'm thoroughly enjoying being in this working environment.
"It's a step up in terms of the resources and facilities and the fact that I'm working at a Premier League club, but the challenge is always the same whatever club you're at.
"At my level, it is to develop players and work with them to make them as good as they can be, both as people and footballers.
"All the boys have been really receptive to the work so far and I've been really impressed with their ability and humility on the football pitch."