KOP News # 1006

 

ANFIELD KIDS LOOK TO THE MESSI WAY

 

Liverpool Reserve manager Rodolfo Borrell

Wednesday March 14,2012

By Paul Joyce

 

THE coach standing on the touchline cajoling Liverpool's youngsters to "pass, pass, pass" tonight might not been instantly recognisable, yet his credentials are impeccable.

This, after all, is someone Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola ranks, alongside the likes of Arrigo Sacchi and Rafa Benitez, as a reference point in his own glittering career, someone who oversaw Lionel Messi's first steps at the famous La Masia academy.

These days Rodolfo Borrell imparts the wisdom accrued during 13 years spent at the coal face of the world's pre-eminent football factory to the next batch of youngsters looking to make the grade at Anfield.

Any Liverpool showdown with Ajax would normally conjure memories of a glorious past at the head of Europe's top table.

That they will meet this evening in the semi-finals of the NextGen tournament, the equivalent of an U19s European competition, suggests it now offers a pointer to the future.

I never came here with ideas of just to make us play like Barca

Rodolfo Borrell

Borrell's aim, just as when he was in charge of the junior sides at the Nou Camp, is to smooth progression into the first team of promising players such as Raheem Sterling.

Yet he does not advocate simply copying all things Barcelona.

 "I never came here with the idea of just to make us play like Barca," said Borrell, who joined Liverpool in July 2009 and is currently reserve team coach.

 "It is a great mistake for me to come to another country as a foreigner and say everything in this country is wrong.
 "This country has really good things what you have to do is keep those going and add and implement anything else that can make them better.

"You can copy the philosophy of the club and that means, for example, in Barca the first team has a very clear style of play.

 "It makes sense if all the youth structures play the same way because then you will get a new player who makes his debut in the first team and people say he looks like he has been playing for five years in the first team.

 "But this boy is just playing with the same style and same philosophy that he has for eight years of his life.
Therefore it is easy for him."

Having worked with Messi when he arrived from Argentina at U14 level, Borrell is careful about using the word "talent" and believes it is bandied about too freely to any teenager who shows an ounce of flair.

 "When I saw him I thought he was extraordinary like now," he said. "He played so quick, the ball is like it is part of his foot.

"Talent is this magical thing where you touch the ball and the ball is in the net. You don't know why sometimes.

"But talent is Maradona, Messi, Pele, Cryuff. We talk about talent too quick, too soon nowadays."

It is a warning that still rings true for those hoping victory over the Dutch will propel them to super-stardom.

"You work for to try and get someone in the first team," added Borrell. "But this is Liverpool Football Club and sometimes I have the feeling people think this is an easy thing to achieve.

 "To get into the first team must be not difficult but very, very difficult because this means we have a high level in the first team."

* Liverpool face Ajax at Langtree Park, St Helens, kick-off 7.30pm.