Queens Park Rangers manager Chris Ramsey has revealed his admiration for his Liverpool counterpart in the build-up to today’s game, suggesting that Brendan Rodgers has done a ‘remarkable’ job since arriving at Anfield in 2012.
SEE MORE:
Ten ‘marquee’ arrivals who could help save Brendan Rodgers this summer
Ten great players we didn’t see the best of at Liverpool, with Kewell & Morientes
Liverpool transfer news
Rodgers is set to become the first Liverpool manager since the 1950s to not win a trophy during his first three years in charge. However, Ramsey insists we should have no concerns over sticking with the Northern Irishman long-term.
In quotes taken by the Daily Mirror, he said: “I don’t know if he’ll get much more time and ultimately (given) the pressure cooker of football, statistically managers don’t stay in their jobs very long.
“He’s done very well to stay in the job there with the history that’s gone on and, behind the scenes, the people who are ambassadors and on the board. They have their expectations because the club is one of the biggest in the world.
“I would really love to have that pressure that he (Rodgers) has got. He’s at a big club, he’s done very very well. He said it himself the other day – three months ago he was a tactical genius. You don’t become a bad manager overnight.”
Ramsey and Rodgers will go head-to-head for the first time this afternoon, with both men desperately craving three points, admittedly for very different reasons.
Rangers could conceivably fall seven points adrift of safety with defeat this afternoon, while the Reds could drop as low as seventh by the end of the weekend if they fail to pick up the win.
Rangers defender Clint Hill, also quoted by the Mirror, agrees, suggesting that the Kop boss deserves time to set things right next season.
“It’s been a disappointing season because Liverpool need to challenge, simple as that,” he said. “Being in the Champions League places, that’s the minimum the club deserves, so overall Brendan will look back at it as a disappointment.
“With the new influx of players trying to buy into Brendan’s style of play it was hard for him. Losing Suarez’s goals and Sturridge for a big part of the season would be a blow for any team.
“The new players he brought in need to adapt, so you’ve got to give him time. It’s a big club to play for. It’s not easy to go there and hit the ground running.”