Hodgson looks forward to a ‘remarkable coup’
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson says his team is ready for the stern test on Sunday against Manchester United. He hopes that a win will bring a welcome respite for both fans and players alike.
However, even a win against arch-rivals will not ease the pressure on Hodgson, who many believe is a dead man walking.
Hodgson believes that a win against Manchester United will be a ‘remarkable coup’. This yet again signified his satisfaction with mediocrity and acceptance that United are bigger club than Liverpool.
"We've got quite an experienced bunch of players here and they know as well as I do how important this game is - in particular for the supporters of the club, who'd take enormous delight if we could knock Manchester United out of the cup on their home ground.”
said Hodgson.
"It would be a remarkable coup.” He continued.
The 63-year old's reign has been beleaguered with sub standard football and abysmal results one after another. He has hardly had any respite during his terrible six months at the office.
Pressure is immense and another defeat is very much on the cards, especially taking into consideration Liverpool’s away form.
Liverpool cancelled their press conference and instead published an interview with their manager on their official website. It was believed that the press conference will be marred by questions regarding his future rather than about the match itself.
In the interview, Hodgson said that he is hopeful that the players will respond and a clash against Manchester United needs no reminding to the players of its significance.
According to the Liverpool boss, this match gives Liverpool a chance in a really high profile game to put things right and erase the bitter memory of their latest setback against Blackburn.
He acknowledged the fact that it was a horrendous defensive display on Wednesday night and another performance of that sort on Sunday and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 could well be in for a real hammering.
However, Hodgson was adamant that the players are fully focused and raring to go against Manchester United.
"I don't think it's difficult to get the players focused on a team like Manchester United.” He said.
"I'll be preaching to the converted. They don't need to be told that.”
He was also hopeful that a change in the competition can bring in a change in club's fortune. But at the same time wants his players to not just play with heart but use their intellect as well.
"The important thing for me to do is make that point clear but also to emphasise that to win it will require a lot of intelligent football.
"We're not going to do it through heart alone. It needs to be a combination of endeavour and desire, but also people using their heads to play well tactically, negate Manchester United's strengths and take advantage of some of their weaknesses."
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