Brendan Rodgers has praised Kenny Dalglish for the work he has done at Liverpool and believes he can develop the club further next season.
Swansea manager gives backing to Dalglish
Brendan Rodgers has praised Kenny Dalglish for the work he has done at Liverpool and believes he can develop the club further next season.
While Rodgers has received plaudits for keeping Swansea in the Premier League and getting the team to play stylish football, the pressure has increased on Dalglish following an inconsistent campaign for the Reds.
The two sides meet at the Liberty Stadium on the final day of the season, with Liverpool currently eight points better off in eighth place.
Dalglish has also guided the Anfield club to Carling Cup glory and the final of the FA Cup, where they lost to Chelsea, and Rodgers feels he needs more time to deliver sustained success.
"I don't believe their season has been a failure, he has been in the process of rebuilding," said Rodgers.
"When he had the second half of last season there he did a terrific job, he renewed the motivation in the group and city, and this season he has reshaped the squad. It's the beginning of a process that he hopes in the future will bring success.
"But that's the problem with being a manager; it's like trying to build an aircraft while it is flying.
"You don't get time to put it in the hanger and do everything you need and send it out there, you have to try and do it while it's flying and that's what he is in the process of.
"It is nowhere near a failure to get to two cup finals, winning one and going very close in another one.
Terrific job
"Liverpool has an incredible history of winning leagues and European Cups but the reality is they are having to build back towards that, and the Liverpool supporters probably see no better man to do that than Kenny.
"He has a history of success at the club as a player and a manager.
"He has a strong team behind him but unfortunately everyone looks to the short term, but he has done a terrific job and he will look to develop and grow next season."
Rodgers knows that regardless of whether his side secure a top-10 finish, their mere survival has been a remarkable achievement over the odds.
"For us to finish in the top 10 would be an absolutely brilliant achievement," Rodgers said.
"We will always look to enhance what we do.
Proud
"If you look at Stoke, they have been consistent performers at this level but haven't finished in the top 10 yet, so that's the reality of the opportunity these guys have on Sunday.
"But, however the game goes, I am so proud of them.
"The demands on us have been incredible on and off the field and it brought us closer together as a group and united us as a team.
"It would be a brilliant achievement if we can do that, but wherever we finish it has been a great achievement by the players this season."
