Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has estimated that he needs to sign at least six new players during the summer if the club is to compete both domestically and in Europe, but the Northern Irishman says he is not worried about signing creative players telling the Guardian:
“I think with 96 goals in the league we are doing OK in that department,” he said. “We will need to bring in players over the summer, and the great plus about being in the Champions League is that it makes it easier to attract the top ones, but we have developed a style of football over this past year that is already being recognised.”
The Liverpool manager has also made peace with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho after conceding it was up to him to find attacking solutions of how to beat Chelsea rather than complaining about their tactics.
“I was probably a wee bit frustrated immediately after the game, as we have a way of working and a way of playing that recommends itself to leading players. We have established a reputation as a creative, attacking team that wants to win games and that should stand us in good stead,” he said.
“Last summer when we were speaking to certain players they said they respected what we were trying to achieve but they wanted to play at the top level. We are at that level now, ahead of schedule, so I suspect this summer will be a totally different proposition.
“It is a World Cup summer, so most of the best players are going to be in Brazil for a while, but it is the same for everyone else and our recruitment team has already started work. The owners recognise that we will need an injection of quality for next year and I know the profile of the players we will need.
“We are already putting plans in place so it will be the total opposite of my first season here, when players didn’t report back until quite late after the Euros and I only had a short space of time to put across my ideas and methods. I had no real time to work then so it was difficult to be at a new club. This summer, we have an established playing style and new players will be able to come in and immediately know what we are all about.”
