Brendan Rodgers talks ahead of his first meeting with Swansea since leaving the Liberty at the end of last season<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my time at Swansea, personally I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever been through a more difficult period in all my life,\u201d Rodgers explained to Wales on Sunday, the 39-year-old losing his father to cancer last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cYet, professionally, I probably had arguably the most successful period of my life.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that only came because of the support I got from the people of Swansea.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was \u2013 and always have been \u2013 touched by their support. Since I left I\u2019ve had a number of letters from Swansea fans and there was one which was really poignant.<\/p>\n
\u201cI missed a press conference one day and no-one ever knew why.<\/p>\n
\u201cI travelled to see a young lady called Amanda who was a headteacher.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had been diagnosed with cancer, she was told she was all right but then she was readmitted with only a few months to live.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the day to meet the press, but life was more important so I went to see her. She was in the last few weeks of her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was a mad Swansea supporter, but, ironically, her family were big Liverpool supporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I spent the afternoon with her, she went away and wanted to give me something for when she passed away.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo when I arrived at Liverpool the family said this was something that she wanted to give me. It will always stay closely with me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt reminds me that my relationship with the people,\u00a0players<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and supporters will never change.<\/p>\n \u201cFootball is football. That is the real world.<\/p>\n \u201cI was happy at Swansea, I really was,\u201d said Rodgers. \u201cIt\u2019s a club that is really going to go on and grow and grow into a really established Premier League club.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew what the journey was there. I was more than happy to be part of that and help that to grow.<\/p>\n \u201cBut this is Liverpool. You walk into the building here and there is the European Cup for the five titles here.<\/p>\n \u201cThey haven\u2019t won the league for 23 years. It\u2019s a frustration, but that was part of coming here to try and help and test myself as a manager.<\/p>\n \u201cEven with all that it was a really emotional time. I remember with Huw, my wife… the pull was incredible.<\/p>\n \u201cThe professional\u00a0challenge<\/span><\/span>\u00a0was why I came. If it was about people and honesty and those type of things, I\u2019d still be at Swansea.<\/p>\n \u201cBut this challenge is so great. It was still a big decision; I spoke to a number of people but one of the best bits of advice came from the chairman.<\/p>\n \u201cHuw was incredible in the process, he saw it from professional point of view, but also as a friend.<\/p>\n \u201cI respect the Swansea City supporters, no matter what their response is,\u201d said Rodgers when asked what he thinks may greet him from the Anfield Road End on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s never easy when anyone leaves. I hope over time that the work I did during that period will be respected and looked upon.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand if there is any ill-feeling towards me. But I only left to come to one of the biggest clubs in the world.<\/p>\n \u201cI had four chances to leave whilst I was there, but I was always very happy in my life.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took an opportunity from an iconic club to come for me to go.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the Swans now have a terrific manager who will add his own slant to the philosophy.<\/p>\n \u201cSwansea\u2019s philosophy is in place, we\u2019re only at formation here,\u201d he said. \u201cWhere we are at and where we want to be is two different places.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I love the challenge and I love the responsibility.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd, whatever happens after this experience, I will be a better manager for having gone through everything here.\u201d<\/p>\n Which hints at why he felt, for all the attachment, Liverpool could not be said \u2018no\u2019 to.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at Owen Coyle. A couple of years ago he was touted as being the next Liverpool manager. He\u2019s now out of work,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve spoken to managers and we\u2019ve all seen it. It\u2019s why loyalty is with supporters.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s their club and they love it. I will go into a club and give it everything.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt I did that at Swansea, an incredible place, and, whatever reaction I do get, hopefully over time people will see my piece of work and history.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n