Joe Cole has insisted he has joined Liverpool to win honours at “the biggest club in England”.
The former Chelsea midfielder claimed the history, tradition and fanatical supporters of his new team made his switch a “no brainer”.
He said: “I think players can play for other clubs but with Liverpool you have to live and breathe it. It’s that kind of a place - and I am excited by the challenge.
“I made my decision purely on football terms and I came here because this is a massive club. When I knew Liverpool were interested it was a no-brainer because they are the biggest club in the country.
“Everyone knows it’s a massive club but until you sign you don’t realize quite how big. I have people on my phone who I didn’t even know were Liverpool fans. It seems everyone I bump into is a Liverpool fan - it’s a huge, huge club and it’s a dream come true.”
Cole is convinced that his new team has the quality to surprise the cynics who expect Roy Hodgson’s side to struggle in the new season.
“I have come here to be a success, and my target is to play as many games as I can in this team and achieve something great for the club,” he added.
“I believe I can be part of a team that is capable of doing great things. I will fight to try and win trophies for this club.
“There are world class players here and I am excited about the chance to play alongside them.
“I am proud to be playing for this club and will give my all in every training session and every game to help the club be successful and put some pots in the trophy cabinet.”
Hodgson admits a lot of hard work is required to turn Liverpool’s fortunes around and said: “You don’t change doom and gloom or disenchantment with a signing or two.
“Liverpool Football Club has always been famous for the passion and knowledge of its supporters and they know I can’t put right the disenchantment with a couple of words.
“What we can do is hopefully persuade them we are on the right track, that we’re trying to get things right again and that we’re looking for new investment.
“We know the situation with the owners, the club is for sale and we are trying desperately for the right people to come in and buy the club. In the meantime we are trying our level best to do what we can out here on the training field and on the field of play to get results.
“I can only hope that the people who watch us are aware of the situation, that they have their feet on the ground like we’ve got our feet on the ground and they give us credit if we deserve any for the efforts we make on the field.
“I can assure them we will give everything on the field and I will hope to dispel the gloom and the disenchantment in that way.”
There was more good news from the Liverpool camp yesterday though, as another new signing arrived, with £2m capture from Rangers Danny Wilson insisting he turned down the chance to play in the Champions’ League to go to Anfield.
“It wasn’t a difficult decision to come here as Liverpool are not a team who come in for you every day, so I can’t wait to get started,” the 18 year old explained.
“There were other clubs interested in me who are in the Champions League, but once Liverpool came in for me there was only one team I wanted to go to - coming from Scotland, people may say I might not be ready for this, but that is a challenge I want to put on myself and that’s the reason I came here.”
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