Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s weekend clash with Aston Villa, Brendan Rodgers has refused to concede that he has come to the end of the road at Anfield.
The Northern Irish coach has come in for increasing criticism in recent weeks as his side’s form has tailed off.
The Reds haven’t won outright in their last six matches; having drawn with Arsenal—a respectable result—they were defeated by both West Ham United and Manchester United in consecutive fixtures. A 1-1 draw away to Girondins de Bordeaux represented a solid start to their Europa League campaign, but confidence is low following a 1-1 draw with Norwich City and the humiliating penalty victory over Carlisle United in the Capital One Cup.
According to an Italian news site, this is Walter Mazzarri in Pisa airport this morning, about to fly to Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/x1tBBc82Wv
— Red Star Liverpool (@RedStarLvrpool) September 25, 2015
The writing appeared to be on the wall for Rodgers on Friday when former Inter Milan manager Walter Mazzarri was pictured, reportedly on a flight to Liverpool in order to agree terms to replace the former Swansea City boss at Anfield.
However, speaking to the Mirror ahead of his side’s weekend clash with Aston Villa, Rodgers has insisted that he will not be leaving his post, and is still targeting 1000 matches with the Merseyside heavyweights.
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“No, no. No chance,” the manager began, when asked whether he would be quitting his job. “No. I want to be a manager and the target in my own mind is to get to 1,000 games.
“I would love that to be here [with Liverpool], but I’m a realist – I’ve got realism in my professional life and I know to get there you are looking at 20-odd years, and I may have another five or six jobs to do it.
“I want to be a football manager for another 20 odd years, and I respect that that 20 years probably won’t be here.
“Whilst I’m here, I’ll always do the best I can.
“I’m never going to walk away because I’ll always have belief that I can improve players and make things better.”