Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes that a win against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Gomel-c39117 in the Reds Europa League game will set the perfect platform for them going into the next season.
The Merseyside team will kick start their 2012/13 campaign on Thursday, when they travel to Gomel to take on the Belarusian outfit in a Europa League qualifier.
The fixture will also be the Northern Irishman’s first full match as a Liverpool manager.
With the Reds Premier League campaign set to begin on the 18th of August in an away match against West Bromwich Albion, the Anfield boss felt that a win on Thursday will provide them with a much needed confidence booster going into the next season.
He told the reporters in an interview, “We are still finding our fitness and our match fitness, but of course I think playing these games helps us and will give us that edge going into the beginning of this season.”
Even though the Reds failed to finish inside the top-six in the previous term, their League Cup triumph in February secured them a berth in the second tier European competition.
Although Rodgers let out his ambition of making an impression in Europe, he admitted that his prime focus was on helping his side do well in the Premier League. However, he mentioned that he was currently focused on the next game against Gomel, and was excited
about making his first appearance in Europe as a manager.
He continued, “I don't want to disrespect the [Europa League] but there's no doubt the league is our priority and we want to finish as high as we possibly can.”
Despite the fact that their opponents do not boost a footballing history comparable to that of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809, the former Swansea City boss refused to take a breather. He revealed that he had already done his homework on their opponents, and he will look to play
to his side’s strengths.
He added, “They have done well to qualify for this stage, the pitch looks nice, they play a 4-2-3-1 system but for us it's always what we do ourselves and that is always my focus.”
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