| I have faith in myself, insists Hodgson • Hodgson tries to put Liverpool's slump into perspective• 'We all know in football you have good and bad moments'Roy Hodgson, the Liverpool manager, says he still has faith in his ability as a manager despite the club's current slump, but admits he is enduring "a bad moment".A home defeat to Blackpool has left the club 18th in the Premier League and questions are being asked as to whether Hodgson was the right man to replace Rafael BenÃtez.The 63-year-old was the League Managers Association's manager of the year last season after guiding Fulham to the Europa League final, where they lost to Atlético Madrid in extra time.His Anfield start has been dreadful, however, with three defeats, three draws and only one victory in their opening seven league matchesThe start to his reign at Anfield has not gone according to plan however, with three defeats, three draws and only one victory in the opening seven league matches. Liverpool were also, humiliatingly, dumped out of the Carling Cup by the League Two strugglers Northampton Town. But Hodgson said he has not lost faith in his capabilities or methods."I don't think you go from being as feted as I was in May to losing any ability three months later," he said. "I know the question is going to get asked but it shouldn't really be asked by people who have been in football a long time, because we all know in football you have good and bad moments."At the end of May I was having a fantastic moment and here at the beginning of October I'm having bad moments. But I don't think I have suddenly changed or lost any ability which has served me so well in 35 years of coaching."The international break could not have come at a worse time for Liverpool as it means they will be stuck in the bottom three until at least 17 October, when they make the trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton in the Merseyside derby.Hodgson has admitted he has a lot to work to do but knows he has little time to work with his players, with most of his first-team squad away with their national teams."There is no point in me racking my brains or tearing my hair out about the situation which exists if I cannot change it," he said. "The players will not be here for two weeks, I will not see them and it will be a major blow for myself. It would have been good to have spent some time with them in the coming days to at least help them get over the bitter pill we have had to swallow [the defeat to Blackpool]."The transfer window is not open again for almost three months but, even if he had money to spend – and it seems unlikely there will be much come January unless there is good news on the sale of the club – the Liverpool manager knows he has to get more out of his current squad."We have to trust in the players we have here to get it right because until January we can do nothing about it."Roy HodgsonLiverpoolguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Bolivian president Evo Morales knees opponent in groin during 'friendly' match Bolivian president kneeing opponent in the groin during 'friendly' match. telegraph.co.uk |
United to hold emergency talks over Rooney's future • 10am meeting to decide if club will sell Rooney in January• Sir Alex Ferguson adamant United 'don't want this carrying on'Sir Alex Ferguson will hold emergency talks with Manchester United's chief executive, David Gill, tomorrow morning to decide whether to sell Wayne Rooney after the player's damning statement accusing the club of not matching his own ambitions and questioning whether they are in decline.Gill spoke with the Glazer family during the evening and a meeting has been arranged for 10am to decide whether to make Rooney available in the January transfer window. The club are incensed after Rooney went public with his misgivings about whether the club will be in a position to compete for major trophies over the coming years, an explicit admission that he feels United are stagnating under the ownership of the Glazers.The player's statement prompted a robust defence from Ferguson after the 1-0 Champions League defeat of Bursaspor and it is increasingly likely Rooney will never play for the club again."The important thing is that we put it to bed," Ferguson said. "We have a meeting at 10am when we will assess the whole situation. David has already spoken to the owners, which is important. We don't want this carrying on. We don't want a saga and we don't want it becoming more important than the team. It could affect morale. If we carry on with one individual dominating the headlines and our thoughts we would not be doing our job."Ferguson said it was not an option to suspend Rooney but he did not disguise his anger about the way the England international, seriously considering a potential £260,000-a-week offer to join Manchester City, had publicly questioned United's ambition. "Have I won 30 trophies or what?" the manager said. "I have every confidence in the future of this club."We have a good structure, the right staff, the right manager, the right chief executive. There's not a thing wrong with Manchester United. Some players like to think there's a better world somewhere else but it never really works. They look in a field and see a cow and they think it's a better cow than the one in their own field, and it never really works out that way."Rooney had released his statement barely two hours before a match in which supporters brandished banners attacking his behaviour. "I met David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad," Rooney said. "I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract. For me, it's all about winning trophies – as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified."The clear implication was that Rooney believes United are in danger of slipping behind the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City and he went on to question Ferguson's account of what had happened from the manager's press conference yesterday. "I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say and surprised by some of it. It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent [Paul Stretford] and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world."A spokesman for the Glazers declined to comment but Ferguson's response was delivered emphatically. "We will invest for signature players when the time is ready, and this summer was not right for me. Our policy is to bring in young players and it is the right policy."The manager was particularly aggrieved by the suggestion that his younger players might not be up to United's standard. "That's the trouble with potential. People don't identify potential – they're very poor at it – whereas I've identified it all my life. Others don't. I had a player once who said to me Rooney and Ronaldo weren't good enough and he was not prepared to wait until they were good enough."The developing war of words came on the day City's manager, Roberto Mancini, admitted he was monitoring Rooney's potential availability. "Every manager always works towards what is best for his club," Mancini said. "I'm not surprised [Rooney wants to leave] because I think the world has changed and the top players can change their teams every year now if they want."Mancini diplomatically suggested that Rooney could stay at Old Trafford but the player cited "recent difficulties" with Ferguson before delivering what appeared to be his farewell line. "I know I will always owe Sir Alex a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18. For United's sake I wish he could go on forever because he's a one-off and a genius."Wayne RooneySir Alex FergusonManchester UnitedDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Rangers 1 Valencia 1: match report Rangers are unbeaten after three Champions League games and still in contention for European football after Christmas. telegraph.co.uk |
Honeymoon over for Toronto FC The proverbial chickens have come home to roost for Toronto FC, as evidenced by the Reds' 1-0 victory over Panamanian side Arabe Unido Tuesday night before an announced home crowd of 10,385 spectators. cbc.ca |