Reina: 'I'm very happy with Rodgers'

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has revealed that he has been impressed with the start of Brendan Rodgers as manager at Anfield.

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Reina has found himself in and out of the side this season due to injury, while also finding himself linked with a move away from the club.



However, the Spanish stopper has insisted that he has a good relationship with his boss, and that they share many similar ideas about football.



The 30-year-old told The Mirror: "My relationship with the manager is very good, I think we have got a lot of ideas in common. There is understanding about tactics, and the way we see football is quite similar.



"I'm very happy with our manager. He's making sure we are learning, every day, the way to win, and that's important.



"If we play good football, then we will be closer to winning games."



The former Villarreal goalkeeper has made 32 appearances for Liverpool this season

Reina: A move to Barca is out of my hands

Pepe Reina stated that he has no immediate desire to replace Barcelona goalkeeper, Victor Valdes when his contract expires in June 2014, and anything to the contrary is rumour.

In an interview with Spanish sports daily, AS, Reina responded to rumours that he is pushing for a move back to the Camp Nou and insists he is content at Anfield.



“[A move to Barcelona] is not in my hands and the rumour will keep increasing by the media. Barca are such a great club, but I'm happy at Liverpool.”



Reina went on to say that he maintains a good relationship with his former La Masia team-mate, but would not reveal any details behind his decision, even if he knew anything.



“He is a friend, I’m going to respect him in everything that he decides,” he said. “He will have his reasons. He’s not told me anything.”



The Spanish international was elated by his chance to start for the Spanish national team, with Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas still sidelined as he recovers from surgery and spoke about Casilla’s replacement with Los Blancos, Diego Lopez.



“Everything indicates that I will play, but I won’t change my attitude because Iker isn’t here. I’m always excited and prepared. Not everybody that is called up is lucky enough to play. Only 11 play, but being called up by your country is an honour.



“Diego is playing so well; he has been decisive in many games and he is a Real Madrid-quality goalkeeper, without doubt. But in the national team it is the manager that makes the decisions.”

Reina with his teammates at Euro 2012

Reina concluded that despite his reputation as a jokester, he takes his job very seriously, while still allowing himself to enjoy the good times at the appropriate moments.



“I’m not the showman. I’m an extrovert and joyful, and I have been lucky enough to be able to celebrate three great titles. I have been one of the most dedicated, but I am one of La Roja’s goalkeepers, not the showman.





“It’s not something that I prepare; I'm like that and whoever knows me knows that. But at the same time I don’t want people to prefer the funny Pepe Reina. I want them to value me as a sportsman.”

Reina: Board must back boss

Pepe Reina has called on Liverpool's board to bankroll the Brendan Rodgers' revolution during the close season.



Rodgers' blueprint for success at Anfield has shown thrilling glimpses of reaping reward in recent weeks, which have brought 12 goals across three straight wins.

And, despite an annual loss of £40.5m reported at the start of this month, Reina wants reinforcements to help with further progression.

The goalkeeper said: "This year has been important for us in terms of getting to know what the manager wants and develop the ideas.

"Then we have to be ready for the very first game of next season to challenge.

"Obviously we will need some help from the board but I think the basis is well settled. We know the ideas and philosophies of the manager. It is getting better and better so hopefully we will be ready to compete."

Another key objective for the Liverpool hierarchy is to keep Luis Suarez, who signed a new deal last summer and has scored 21 goals this season.

"Liverpool is very lucky to have Luis," Reina said. "Every day I am proud to

say that I share a dressing room with such a big player.



"He is 100% all the time. Obviously we will see what happens in the future. Everybody wants him to stay with the team."

Reds can cope - Pepe

Keeper Pepe Reina believes Liverpool will be able to overcome the 2-0 deficit to Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday night.

Brendan Rodgers' side go into the game two down after last week's defeat in Russia but Reina believes they can still progress as confidence is high following the win over Swansea at the weekend.

The Reds will be without Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, who are both ineligible, so there will need to be some changes to the starting formation but Reina believes they will cope.

"We'll be fine, there's no doubt the manager will work on [the formation] and we will produce a team that is capable of winning the game and go through to the next round," he told the club's official website.

"As the manager said after the game, the next goal in the tie is going to be vital - and if we can score that goal, with Anfield right behind us, it will be very, very important. We always have great chances at Anfield - five or six chances in front of goal - and this will be no different.



"Two-nil was not what we went [to Zenit] for, but we could have scored two or three goals and it would have been a different story. But it is the way it is and 2-0 is a very tough result to overturn, but if there is one place that can do it, it's Anfield - there is no doubt about that."






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