Hodgson accepts fans anger
Boss never meant to offend supporters and hopes to win them over
By Chris Burton Last updated: 31st December 2010
Roy Hodgson insists he never intended to be critical of Liverpool's supporters and believes they will back him if results improve.
The Reds boss has fallen under mounting pressure over recent weeks, with his inability to establish any consistency at Anfield leaving fans frustrated.
Those of the opinion that Hodgson is no longer the right man for the job, after half a season at the helm, vented their anger towards the under-fire coach during Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Wolves.
The former Fulham boss responded by suggesting that he has not been given an opportunity to prove himself, saying: "Ever since I arrived, the famous Anfield support has not really been there."
Some fans have taken that as a slant against their commitment to the club, but Hodgson insists that was not the point he was trying to get across.
He told Sky Sports News: "I am disappointed in that. I regret it if I have offended anyone in any way. It wasn't meant to be an offensive comment from my point of view, it was meant to be a truly defensive comment.
Responsibility
"I went on to say that, while describing my situation as not being able to win them over with the performances, I was taking responsibility and was quite prepared to take it on the chin. I am the one in the firing line after a poor performance and I fully understand and sympathise with them.
"I am disappointed that has 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 either, because everybody knows the Liverpool fans and the support from the fans is the best in the country.
"I am also aware that to get the best out of that support you have got to play well and give them something to support. We didn't do that on Wednesday night and I would have been surprised if their reaction was any different from what it was."
On his strained relationship with Liverpool followers, he added: "They support the club and they support the man who is in charge of the club.
"I just feel that from the start it has been an uphill struggle. I don't think they necessarily got behind the appointment, and there was no reason why they should. They were prepared to give me the chance to get the team playing well and for them to get behind it but, with that not having happened, I can only accept what has happened, with them turning against me.
"I still believe, though, that they are still very much behind the club and if we start to turn things around, they will be behind us all."
Ambition
A reversal in fortune is required if Hodgson is to avoid the axe, with reports continuing to suggest that he is on borrowed time.
A failure to challenge for a top-four finish, with the Reds sat 12th at present, has gone against him, but the experienced 63-year-old insists UEFA Champions League qualification is not out of the question.
He said: "Nothing has ever gone but I don't think it's right at this moment in time for us to be talking about Champions League qualification.
"That's always the ambition of the best part of the teams that aren't fighting relegation, that's their major goal, and there is no reason why a major club like Liverpool shouldn't have it as a goal either.
"But of course it is going to be very difficult and our immediate preoccupation has got to be to get ourselves into that top half of the table and within some sort of touching distance.
"If we succeed in doing that, then maybe the question becomes relevant. But it's not relevant at this moment in time with the next seven games coming up."
skysports
Boss never meant to offend supporters and hopes to win them over
By Chris Burton Last updated: 31st December 2010
Roy Hodgson insists he never intended to be critical of Liverpool's supporters and believes they will back him if results improve.
The Reds boss has fallen under mounting pressure over recent weeks, with his inability to establish any consistency at Anfield leaving fans frustrated.
Those of the opinion that Hodgson is no longer the right man for the job, after half a season at the helm, vented their anger towards the under-fire coach during Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Wolves.
The former Fulham boss responded by suggesting that he has not been given an opportunity to prove himself, saying: "Ever since I arrived, the famous Anfield support has not really been there."
Some fans have taken that as a slant against their commitment to the club, but Hodgson insists that was not the point he was trying to get across.
He told Sky Sports News: "I am disappointed in that. I regret it if I have offended anyone in any way. It wasn't meant to be an offensive comment from my point of view, it was meant to be a truly defensive comment.
Responsibility
"I went on to say that, while describing my situation as not being able to win them over with the performances, I was taking responsibility and was quite prepared to take it on the chin. I am the one in the firing line after a poor performance and I fully understand and sympathise with them.
"I am disappointed that has 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 either, because everybody knows the Liverpool fans and the support from the fans is the best in the country.
"I am also aware that to get the best out of that support you have got to play well and give them something to support. We didn't do that on Wednesday night and I would have been surprised if their reaction was any different from what it was."
On his strained relationship with Liverpool followers, he added: "They support the club and they support the man who is in charge of the club.
"I just feel that from the start it has been an uphill struggle. I don't think they necessarily got behind the appointment, and there was no reason why they should. They were prepared to give me the chance to get the team playing well and for them to get behind it but, with that not having happened, I can only accept what has happened, with them turning against me.
"I still believe, though, that they are still very much behind the club and if we start to turn things around, they will be behind us all."
Ambition
A reversal in fortune is required if Hodgson is to avoid the axe, with reports continuing to suggest that he is on borrowed time.
A failure to challenge for a top-four finish, with the Reds sat 12th at present, has gone against him, but the experienced 63-year-old insists UEFA Champions League qualification is not out of the question.
He said: "Nothing has ever gone but I don't think it's right at this moment in time for us to be talking about Champions League qualification.
"That's always the ambition of the best part of the teams that aren't fighting relegation, that's their major goal, and there is no reason why a major club like Liverpool shouldn't have it as a goal either.
"But of course it is going to be very difficult and our immediate preoccupation has got to be to get ourselves into that top half of the table and within some sort of touching distance.
"If we succeed in doing that, then maybe the question becomes relevant. But it's not relevant at this moment in time with the next seven games coming up."
skysports
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