Suarez my player of the year, says Rodgers

Feb 28, 2013 3:15:00 PM

The 40-year-old boss praises the Uruguay international's work ethic and quality in helping the side come through a difficult first few months this season when options were thin

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has declared that Luis Suarez is his player of the year this season.

The 26-year-old forward has been in exceptional form this season for the club, hitting 18 goals in the league so far while his tally stands at 26 goals across all competitions, leading to reported interest from Bayern Munich and other European giants.

With the club currently sat in eighth place in the league table with 11 games left to play this term, Rodgers believes that Suarez's qualities have stood out all campaign during which they have come to rely on him for more than just goals.

"Who's mine [player of the year]? Luis Suarez. He has been phenomenal. That's not just an opinion as his manager," the Reds boss told reporters.

"Luis had to play as the only striker we had for six months and hasn't missed a single day of training. I couldn't look further than Luis."

Liverpool travel away to Roberto Martinez's Wigan side on Saturday looking to maintain the pressure on the teams above them as they remain in the hunt for a European spot and Rodgers revealed that the side could be without Daniel Sturridge for the trip while Raheem Sterling could be rested.

He added: "Daniel has had a little knock but we'll assess that in the next day and see how he is for the weekend.

"[Sterling] is a kid Sterling who's got huge talent. I've got to make sure I protect him. He'll need a wee rest, mentally and physically."

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Real Madrid press conference - LIVE!

Catch the latest news from the Spanish capital as Jose Mourinho's time at Santiago Bernabeu nears its end. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Miles Chambers.

7:29 PM BST

Portuguese trainers around the world can breathe a sarcastic sigh of relief. Real Madrid's club president has confirmed that Jose Mourinho's exit does not (why would it?!) rule out coaches from that country coming to the Bernabeu again someday: "We could have another Portuguese coach in future. This an open-minded club and there are no limitations."

7:29 PM BST

Florentino Perez refused to condemn Iker Casillas being dropped by Jose Mourinho as a major reason for the coach's imminent departure: "Regarding the [controversial] decisions he made, like benching Iker - he is our coach and he is the one who decides."

He also believes that Real Madrid have undoubtedly progressed under the former (and soon-to-be-returning?) Chelsea boss: "Everything is relative. From where we have come, we have taken a big step but we were lacking a little extra."

7:25 PM BST

Any Real Madrid fans worrying that Jose Mourinho's exit - considering his reportedly bumper contract - would sap money from the Santiago Bernabeu can have their fears eased somewhat.

Florentino Perez has revealed: "No compensatin will be given [to Mourinho] upon his depature from the club."

7:23 PM BST

Even Florentino Perez isn't trying to pretend that Jose Mourinho's fallout with Iker Casillas and the subsequent anti-Mourinho vibe around the Bernabeu that it has created has not played a part in the Portuguese's exit.

He added: "I would have liked Mou to stay, but a person has a limit and the level of pressure has increased so much..."

7:20 PM BST

Florentino Perez is being unsurprisingly amicable with this whole thing, but there are stings and barbs for Jose Mourinho buried in some of his words, such as: "Achievements this season haven't been sufficient for demands of a club such as Real Madrid, or a coach like Mourinho."

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