Saturday, February 12, 2011

Kenny Dalglish Praises Raul Meireles

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has heaped praise on midfielder Raul Meireles after a string of fantastic performances and strikes, including a winning goal at Chelsea.

However, the Scotsman has been quick to insist that the Portuguese international's goalscoring form has been down to the player's hard work and ability as he has adapted himself to the English league and not due to any tactical wizardry on his part.

Club legend Dalglish told reporters: "Raul has always had the ability he has shown recently.

"Maybe he's settled down a little bit and is more comfortable and confident because he is playing well but there's been nothing drastic [tactically] for any of the players really.

"It is fantastic to see Raul doing so well. He has always been a talented footballer, he's always had what we are seeing now but it's been trying to get it out and it is coming out now and he's scoring goals."

Meireles has found himself playing in an advanced midfield role of late, often alongside club captain Steven Gerrard or in a solo role feeding the ball to the strikers up top, and is thriving after being picked out of position – often on the right flank – by previous manager Roy Hodgson.

Since Dalglish's return, Liverpool has shown flexibility in formation and tactics, with victories against Stoke and Chelsea featuring three at the back and a host of different midfield setups.

But the Scot has admitted that he is no tactical genius, and the changes in shape introduced by him and new coach Steve Clarke have been purely to get the best out of the existing personnel.

He added: "The system change was beneficial to us. It is about the club, about the team, and we are the most important people in our eyes.

"I am not here to try to impress everyone by saying I'm a tactical wizard, I'm just here to get the best from our boys.

"It is part of our responsibility to work out how to do that and we won't do anything to confuse anyone."

Liverpool currently lie in a season's best of sixth place and are six points behind fourth placed Chelsea, but Dalglish is reluctant to spark any false hope amongst the Anfield camp that the team will sneak into a Champion's League place.

The former Celtic player continued: "It wasn't a realistic proposition last season so it is only this season we can worry about."

"We've won four games, so that's moving in the right direction and that's what we want to do.

"We've had four results, four shut-outs, but that doesn't earn us anything for the game against Wigan.

"We've got to build on what we've done, but that doesn't mean to say that because we've done it [improved form] we're finished - we want to continue to do what we've been doing.

"It's much more enjoyable to be winning matches than losing them, so that's the thing that will be at the forefront of my mind.

"It's more enjoyable for everyone if we get a result."

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