AS Liverpool’s players trudged from the St Andrew’s turf on Sunday afternoon, there was little glimpse of a smile on their collectively stern faces.
But Daniel Agger is convinced the laughter has returned to the training ground at Melwood since the arrival of Roy Hodgson.
Regaining the feel-good factor has been a buzz phrase around the club ever since Hodgson’s appointment as successor to Rafael Benitez sparked what Liverpool hoped would be a turning point in a summer of disillusionment.
Results on the pitch have pointed to the fact it will take time for the Anfield outfit to truly replicate the form that made them competitive for much of the Spaniard’s reign.
But away from the playing field, Denmark international Agger believes the change in players, coaching staff and training methods has already started to have a positive effect.
“It’s a new team with new players, young players, new staff,†says the defender. “You can see on people’s faces they’re a lot more happy.
“The training sessions are different. When you get a new training session, new staff, new methods, it gives more energy somehow.
“Obviously the sessions have to be good and in the right way. But for me it’s important for a team to be happy to play football. For me personally it’s important to be happy to play football. I can perform better and I think it’s the same for everybody.â€
When asked if he felt the squad had grown stale under Benitez, the 25-year-old adds: “I think we have to look at the future not the past so I don’t think it’s relevant.
But Daniel Agger is convinced the laughter has returned to the training ground at Melwood since the arrival of Roy Hodgson.
Regaining the feel-good factor has been a buzz phrase around the club ever since Hodgson’s appointment as successor to Rafael Benitez sparked what Liverpool hoped would be a turning point in a summer of disillusionment.
Results on the pitch have pointed to the fact it will take time for the Anfield outfit to truly replicate the form that made them competitive for much of the Spaniard’s reign.
But away from the playing field, Denmark international Agger believes the change in players, coaching staff and training methods has already started to have a positive effect.
“It’s a new team with new players, young players, new staff,†says the defender. “You can see on people’s faces they’re a lot more happy.
“The training sessions are different. When you get a new training session, new staff, new methods, it gives more energy somehow.
“Obviously the sessions have to be good and in the right way. But for me it’s important for a team to be happy to play football. For me personally it’s important to be happy to play football. I can perform better and I think it’s the same for everybody.â€
When asked if he felt the squad had grown stale under Benitez, the 25-year-old adds: “I think we have to look at the future not the past so I don’t think it’s relevant.
