By Ayomide Oriade
What a way and time to taunt your rival. Liverpool boss, Brendan Rogers has warned rivals Manchester united saying it could be their turn in the football wilderness should they fail to qualify for next season’s champions league.
Rogers said his United counterpart David Moyes would face a struggle to attract world-class players unless they are competing in Europe’s elite club competition. Liverpool face United at old Trafford on Sunday knowing a win will put them 14 points clear of the red devils. Liverpool and Arsenal are currently 11 points ahead of United, who need a remarkable sequence of results in the run-in to snatch a place in the top four.
The Liverpool boss was speaking from experience knowing what the club went through before they could persuade Suarez to stay at Anfield. Liverpool won the Champions League title in 2005 but have not won the English top flight since 1990 and Rodgers has warned that United could face a similar drought after dominating English football for two decades.
“When you’re not in it, even though this club is a worldwide, monumental club, we found it difficult because the best players want to play in the best competitions. This was Liverpool and we weren’t in the Champions League.
“In order to get in some of the type of players we want, that’s where we need to be and we’re trying to be. Any club will suffer the same when they’re not in there. There is no doubt it will hurt you, but they (United) will know that,” he said.
Rodgers’ side are poised to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in four years, although he warned they cannot afford any slip-ups over the closing stages of the season.
“We still have a lot of work to get in to the Champions League, It’s our focus and drive to arrive back (in the Champions League). We have a long way to go but have shown great potential to be in there. I believe if we can get to that level then it gives us a massive advantage as a club.”
