Gaffer Tapes: Houllier

The Reds manager won the League Cup in 2003 beating Manchester United but that’s not good enough for Liverpool fans who demand Champions League football next season.

HOULLIER ON MEETING HIS CAPTAIN STEVE GERRARD

Gerrard has been Liverpool’s best player in a mixed season, thriving on the responsibility of being made captain

"You know how I found him. He was in the Academy, I went there and was supposed to see somebody else. Then I saw that lean boy in the middle of the park shouting at everybody.

"He was playing under-17s then, I told him ‘come to train with us (the first team)’, he said ‘I can’t’ and I said ‘ yes, I am the boss!’ It’s been fantastic to see the way he has come on. He has a real energy and charisma about him and is always learning. He is doing a lot of dummies now that have been inspired by the top players."


HOULLIER ON NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

Liverpool won the Worthington Cup in 2003 but missed out on a Champions League place and are currently out of the Premiership’s top four after an injury-hit season

"It’s quite simple, let’s have no more injuries and get back to that fourth place. This has not been an easy season for us but we will battle on. The defining period for me is always Easter but I hope by mid-January we will not be far from fourth place, we have all our players back and all fired up."


HOULLIER ON HARRY KEWELL

The Australian made a fantastic start to his Anfield career after signing from Leeds until injury struck, although he returned on Boxing Day against Bolton.

"He scores goals, he makes goals. Harry and Michael Owen represented 70 per cent of our goals before his injury. How would other teams cope if they lost their two main goalscorers, how would Arsenal do without Thierry Henry AND Robert Pires? Harry is an instinctive player full of speed and power, he can score a goal out of nothing.


HOULLIER ON TACTICS

Liverpool have tried to add width and a new attacking flair this season

"We have changed this season, the players we signed (Kewell and Steve Finnan) and the experience of others have enabled us to take our play to another level. I remember the Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira who won the World Cup in 1994 saying his side played football like a snake, sometimes you have to pass forward and back before you can make the important incision.

"Central midfield is the organisation position. When you win the ball, you need a playmaker and Steve Gerrard and Didi Hamann can share it. All big teams need that big character in the central midfield."


HOULLIER ON FOWLER

Gerard sold Robbie Fowler in 2001 to Leeds and the striker scored a last-minute equaliser against Liverpool on Sunday

"Robbie knows where the goal is, I can tell you that. If he is injury-free and gets games under his belt, he will come back to his best. He has not been spared by injury, he had three operations while I was here and then he had a hip operation. Some of his goalscoring is incredible though. He has a good sense of humour, I enjoyed working with him and he knows that."


HOULLIER ON PRESSURE

Every time Liverpool lose, the phone-ins are full of ‘fans’ demanding the Frenchman is sacked

"It’s a big club here so when you win a game it’s good, if you don’t then..

"It is funny. Every time I read something, I am described as under-fire manager. It is funny to read it when it’s only the Christmas period."


HOULLIER ON THE WAY FOOTBALL HAS CHANGED

Houllier says players from previous generations who celebrate the days of boozing with each other after matches are out of touch

"If you start saying in my day, it means you are getting old. You have to live with the modern game in terms on pace and physicality.

"I’m sorry but it means players can’t go out and drink – if you do you will get injured and other problems. Our players understand they have to live for their job. They are lucky to have a passion and a gift for football, how many people have that?"


HOULLIER ON SACRIFICES MADE DURING CHRISTMAS

"This is why the players are well paid. We trained and then went to stay in a hotel on Christmas Day, we let them go home to their families for a bit in the evening and then back to the hotel. They couldn’t have a drink on Boxing Day because we played Manchester City on the Sunday. They won’t be able to go out on New Year’s Eve because we have Yeovil coming up. Otherwise they will break. It’s why players buy cars and houses – they can’t go out and do what a lot of young men can."


HOULLIER ON HIS MANAGEMENT STYLE

"Players play for themselves, their careers are led by themselves. I don’t think you can impose something to somebody but you can convince, show and explain. Journalists might use their jobs to live; they have to live for their jobs."


HOULLIER ON BOO-BOY DANNY MURPHY

The Liverpool-born midfielder is often the target for criticism from Liverpool fans

"The crowd don’t see the hard work he puts in. He sometimes gets caught in possession or loses the ball, but he has a wonderful eye for pass and works hard. He made a lovely goal against Bolton. It is a shame to hear the fans because Danny puts the effort in."