Hodgson apologizes to Liverpool fans
Source: Agencies |
January 1, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ROY Hodgson has apologized to Liverpool fans after accusing them of failing to support him since he arrived to take over from Rafa Benitez.
Things came to a head on Wednesday when Liverpool lost 0-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, its eighth league loss of the season and one which left the 18-time league champion just three points above the drop zone.
The crowd chanted "Hodgson for England" and even held up banners saying "Come Back Rafa" leading under-fire Hodgson to say afterwards that "the famous Anfield support has not really been there ever since I came here".
He also said he hoped the fans "became supporters" which sparked angry comments on internet sites and prompted an online petition to have Hodgson sacked. The Englishman is the favorite with bookmakers to become the next English Premier League manager to lose his job.
Speaking yesterday, Hodgson attempted to placate the fans before today's crucial home game against Bolton Wanderers.
"I certainly regret it if I offended the fans in any way, it was no way meant to cause offense, it was a purely defensive comment," Hodgson told a televised news conference.
"I was taking responsibility and quite prepared to accept it on the chin that I would be the one in the firing line for the team's poor performance.
"I understand and empathize with them and I'm disappointed if that's been changed into me attacking the fans there is no way I would want to do that and there is no way that would be justified because they are the best in the country. "I believe they are very much Liverpool fans and very much behind the club and if we start to turn things around and get the results then they'll be behind us all."
Meanwhile, Chelsea's match against out-of-form Aston Villa tomorrow represents the ideal chance for the Blues to prove they have fully recovered from a run of bad results that has threatened their defense of the Premier League title.
Chelsea's unconvincing 1-0 midweek win over Bolton was its first in seven league matches but Villa seems to be a perfect opponent for a side now chasing consecutive wins for the first time in two months.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier is under huge pressure after guiding his team to just one win in the past seven matches, leaving it just a point above the relegation zone.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is already talking like his team's problems are over.
"It was a very difficult period," said Ancelotti, referring to Chelsea's poor form as a thing of the past. "We have to keep going now. We have to maintain good focus on our training and on our games."
Chelsea will be without suspended defender Branislav Ivanovic at Stamford Bridge, where Florent Malouda's 10th goal of the season earned Wednesday's narrow win over Bolton and kept Chelsea in the top four.
"We are not at our best, obviously," Ancelotti said. "The best condition, the best confidence or the best atmosphere. But I think we can improve. We have to improve."
If Chelsea falters, fifth-place Tottenham could replace it in the Champions League spots.
Tottenham is unbeaten in eight matches and hosts struggling Fulham in one of today's eight matches. Spurs defender Younes Kaboul and striker Jermain Defoe are suspended.
Things came to a head on Wednesday when Liverpool lost 0-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, its eighth league loss of the season and one which left the 18-time league champion just three points above the drop zone.
The crowd chanted "Hodgson for England" and even held up banners saying "Come Back Rafa" leading under-fire Hodgson to say afterwards that "the famous Anfield support has not really been there ever since I came here".
He also said he hoped the fans "became supporters" which sparked angry comments on internet sites and prompted an online petition to have Hodgson sacked. The Englishman is the favorite with bookmakers to become the next English Premier League manager to lose his job.
Speaking yesterday, Hodgson attempted to placate the fans before today's crucial home game against Bolton Wanderers.
"I certainly regret it if I offended the fans in any way, it was no way meant to cause offense, it was a purely defensive comment," Hodgson told a televised news conference.
"I was taking responsibility and quite prepared to accept it on the chin that I would be the one in the firing line for the team's poor performance.
"I understand and empathize with them and I'm disappointed if that's been changed into me attacking the fans there is no way I would want to do that and there is no way that would be justified because they are the best in the country. "I believe they are very much Liverpool fans and very much behind the club and if we start to turn things around and get the results then they'll be behind us all."
Meanwhile, Chelsea's match against out-of-form Aston Villa tomorrow represents the ideal chance for the Blues to prove they have fully recovered from a run of bad results that has threatened their defense of the Premier League title.
Chelsea's unconvincing 1-0 midweek win over Bolton was its first in seven league matches but Villa seems to be a perfect opponent for a side now chasing consecutive wins for the first time in two months.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier is under huge pressure after guiding his team to just one win in the past seven matches, leaving it just a point above the relegation zone.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is already talking like his team's problems are over.
"It was a very difficult period," said Ancelotti, referring to Chelsea's poor form as a thing of the past. "We have to keep going now. We have to maintain good focus on our training and on our games."
Chelsea will be without suspended defender Branislav Ivanovic at Stamford Bridge, where Florent Malouda's 10th goal of the season earned Wednesday's narrow win over Bolton and kept Chelsea in the top four.
"We are not at our best, obviously," Ancelotti said. "The best condition, the best confidence or the best atmosphere. But I think we can improve. We have to improve."
If Chelsea falters, fifth-place Tottenham could replace it in the Champions League spots.
Tottenham is unbeaten in eight matches and hosts struggling Fulham in one of today's eight matches. Spurs defender Younes Kaboul and striker Jermain Defoe are suspended.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
