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Roy Hodgson claims situation 'couldn't be more difficult' as Liverpool prepare to face Rabotnicki in Europa League
World Cup players not ready to return to action...
28 Jul 2010 23:17:00
By Harry Veal
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson believes that his team will face a tough test in their Europa League qualifier against FK Rabotnicki, with a number of first team players out of action.
Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson are all being rested after only returning to training in the last week after the World Cup, and Hodgson believes it will be a difficult game.
"I couldn't have envisaged at the start of my time with Liverpool a more difficult situation than the one I find myself in - coming to Skopje to play a third qualifying round game against a good opponent having really had very little time to work with the Liverpool first team, and not having as many as 10 senior first team players," said the Reds boss.
"So, it couldn't be more difficult."
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the game, Hodgson also revealed his displeasure at having to play such an important game just weeks after the end of the World Cup.
"Although I did it with Fulham, I think in World Cup years it is a tremendous burden on the senior teams from countries like England, Spain, Italy and Germany to have to play third qualifying round matches on July 29 when the players have not returned from their holidays until July 22 or 23," he added.
"Everybody knows that you can't bring people off the beach, give them three days' training and then throw them into a top-class competitive game."
With such a high number of first team players out of contention Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Alberto Aquilani are all likely to start, while youngsters like Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing could also feature.
Despite seeing his selection options limited, Hodgson is still confident that his side will be able to put in a competitive performance.
"I am hoping it will be a good game from us and we will be able to win it, but I am far from confident that is going to be the case because we know the value of the opposition and we know that with 13 players returning from the World Cup and most of them not here, this is not the Liverpool team that people will be watching throughout the season," he continued.
"But I am still very optimistic the team we put out tomorrow will be very competitive and will not let the club down."
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Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson are all being rested after only returning to training in the last week after the World Cup, and Hodgson believes it will be a difficult game.
"I couldn't have envisaged at the start of my time with Liverpool a more difficult situation than the one I find myself in - coming to Skopje to play a third qualifying round game against a good opponent having really had very little time to work with the Liverpool first team, and not having as many as 10 senior first team players," said the Reds boss.
"So, it couldn't be more difficult."
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the game, Hodgson also revealed his displeasure at having to play such an important game just weeks after the end of the World Cup.
"Although I did it with Fulham, I think in World Cup years it is a tremendous burden on the senior teams from countries like England, Spain, Italy and Germany to have to play third qualifying round matches on July 29 when the players have not returned from their holidays until July 22 or 23," he added.
"Everybody knows that you can't bring people off the beach, give them three days' training and then throw them into a top-class competitive game."
With such a high number of first team players out of contention Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Alberto Aquilani are all likely to start, while youngsters like Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing could also feature.
Despite seeing his selection options limited, Hodgson is still confident that his side will be able to put in a competitive performance.
"I am hoping it will be a good game from us and we will be able to win it, but I am far from confident that is going to be the case because we know the value of the opposition and we know that with 13 players returning from the World Cup and most of them not here, this is not the Liverpool team that people will be watching throughout the season," he continued.
"But I am still very optimistic the team we put out tomorrow will be very competitive and will not let the club down."
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