In the final Academy column of 2010, Technical Manager, Josep Segura reflects upon the Youth Cup success against Notts County and looks ahead to the challenges they will face in 2011.
We had a big victory in the Youth Cup on Thursday night and our players produced a fantastic performance.
Notts County were a good team but we showed that we have some talented players coming through the ranks. It was a thoroughly professional performance, particularly in the second half.
The 4-0 win has obviously made everyone here at the Academy very happy ahead of the Christmas break. But I must stress it is not just a question of winning one football match.
The most important thing for Liverpool is that these players aged 16, 17 and 18 years old go on to become professionals with this club.
This is our target. We are very happy with the victory but it is not our major objective. It is clear that we must strive to produce great players to play for Liverpool Football Club for years to come and hopefully they can help us to win many trophies at first-team level.
It is not an easy challenge for us but it is one that we must work hard to make a reality with every passing day.
When I was at Barcelona we won the equivalent of the Youth Cup at U18 level. Everyone was delighted and it is a great memory. But only five players went on to become professionals with the first-team.
It would be fantastic if we can go on to enjoy great success in the Youth Cup this season but we must always ask ourselves how many will be first-team players of the future?
That is the main thing.
Having said that, I feel we have made good progress since I arrived here in the summer of 2009. The Academy is growing and the level of our players is growing too.
I said when I made the move here that the opportunity to work for such a great club was one I could not turn down. If you add to that the fact that I get to work with good people like Frank McParland and Kenny Dalglish then you can see why it is such a wonderful opportunity.
They have both shown great support to me since I came here and for the overall playing philosophy I have introduced. My role is a very specific one that dictates our daily routine. I focus upon the overall style we want from our players and teach the coaches to follow this line of thinking.
Obviously playing in stadia with a rich history like Meadow Lane also adds to the development of these youngsters and it is nice that the fourth round draw offers some of them the chance to sample Anfield for the very first time.
It will be a difficult game for us because Crystal Palace are top of the FA Premier Academy League Group A. That section includes teams like Arsenal and Chelsea so we know it will be a good test and that it won't be easy - but that's the idea I want to install into the heads of all the players, that nothing is easy.
You must work hard for everything you want to achieve.
At this moment, we are all happy and have worked hard, so we can go on our holidays in a happy mood. Everyone is pleased with the job we have done. We will have a good rest and come back in the New Year fresh for the challenges that await, aiming to ensure that this great club is blessed with some of the best homegrown players of the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment