[ad_1]
Each preseason delivered an address that lasted between an hour and 90 minutes and we were in awe, so passionate at the end that we couldn’t wait for a season to start. One of his early talks involved him going in and pressing the badge on a Liverpool jersey.
Look at it carefully. Look at the plate. Think carefully about what that badge means when you wear it. Never forget what it means to the fans you’re playing for, ”he said. He had goose bumps.
When Gary McAllister joined us in 2000, I will never forget his reaction after his first listening experience. Despite all his experience, he said he had never heard a coach communicate so well with a team.
Such meetings were not always cordial and reputation did not matter. No matter how great the player is, he never teased a problem. If he felt someone was out of place, or had spoken out of place in an interview, Houllier’s response was a squad meeting in which he reminded that person of their responsibilities. I would demand an apology. It was a message to all of us about what to expect when representing or talking about the club.
Nothing happened to him. He made sure to read everything about the club, making sure he was on top of every detail. Maybe he did it too much, especially at the end when there was more criticism, but he was meticulous in receiving information.
When he was recovering from his life-saving heart surgery in the hospital, he heard that he had taken a hit from my own fans during a performance at Anfield. He called me to offer me support and reassurance.
When he made a big decision, be it about selecting a team or transferring a player, he was ruthless. The departure of club captain Paul Ince was an example. Deciding that Robbie Fowler, a Liverpool legend, was no longer a guaranteed starter was another. Jamie Redknapp took over the captaincy, but when he was fit there was no place in the starting lineup if Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann were available.
As the results began to improve, our faith in him as players soared.
[ad_2]
