Brendan Rodgers talks down Manchester City link as he hunts for trophies
Brendan Rodgers has staved off talk linking him with a move away from Liverpool in the summer, with Manuel Pellegrini expected to face the sack after failing to close the gap on Chelsea and securing his second title in as many years.
The Chilean's career is hinged on their performance at the Nou Camp where they will look to overturn a 2-1 deficit suffered at the Etihad Stadium.
Failure to change the tide is likely to see Pellegrini suffer a fate similar to that of Roberto Mancini, whose last season at the club saw them crash out of the Champions League in the group stages and lose the finals of the FA Cup to Wigan.
However, Rodgers is not thinking about moving out of Liverpool in the foreseeable future and insists that he is at Anfield for the long haul where he is determined to win trophies and engrave his name as one of the most successful managers to have taken charge of the club.
"It doesn't distract me. I chose to come to Liverpool because I hoped I could be here for many years. I'm very proud to be here and allowed to work, it's just the nature of football, I think, as well," Rodgers stated.
"Where do you go from Liverpool - [who are] one of the biggest clubs in the world? Where do you go?
"You know, when you join Liverpool, that you're never going to manage Manchester United," he continued.
The former Swansea manager had the chance to create history last season when they narrowly lost the title to Manchester City.
The loss of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and Daniel Sturridge's injury meant that they struggled to keep the same momentum in the beginning of this season. It also saw them being ousted from the group stages of the Champions League and fall behind in the race for the title.
However, with a plethora of new names on the squad list, the Reds are showing signs of improvement and can cap their season by winning the FA Cup, where they will face Blackburn in the quarter finals.
"Winning trophies is the currency," Rodgers said.
"When you come to here, that is what you will be judged on. I remember earlier on in the season, playing Ludogorets away, and I walked off and saw a banner with 'Rodgers Out'. So I never get too carried away. I always have that in the back of my mind.
"With all due respect, I'm building something that was different to maybe what it was when Liverpool were the very top team and dominating. But it is something [win trophies] I want to do inherently, for all the supporters and people here.
"Me personally, when I retire from football, hopefully in the next 25 years, we will have won many trophies. Ultimately it won't define me, but I know my time here will be defined like that," he concluded.
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