LIVERPOOL BOSS BRENDAN Rodgers has backed Mario Balotelli and said the striker was right to take the winning penalty against Besiktas.
Balotelli sparked more headlines when his insistence on taking the 85th-minute spot kick upset Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge.
The Italian shrugged off his team-mates and coolly converted the penalty for a 1-0 win, but was called out afterwards by club captain Steven Gerrard for being disrespectful.
Rodgers played down the drama with a simple explanation for the confusion:
Steven and Mario are the top two penalty takers, but obviously neither of them were on the pitch at the start so you have to nominate someone.Jordan was nominated, but when we had a penalty Mario had come onto the field.
Jordan, being someone with responsibility and trust, gave the penalty to Mario so there was no issue.
There was a little bit of a kerfuffle around it because he wanted to make sure Mario was happy to take it but that was it really.
No mention of Sturridge throwing the toys outta the pram though.
What did he do Niall?
He threw a strop . Looking for the peno childish
Sturridge was not looking to take pen at all, he wanted the agreed taker to take it, Henderson.
It was none of his business. Hendo is captain not him.
Why so many articles about one penalty?
I think Daniels pressing there was outstanding
Does Rodgers think we’re all brain dead….! why always you Brendan??
Your right to Fran , he just avoided the question , in fact he was quite pissed at the press conference after the game when quizzed he just kept saying we won the game , we got the penalty we won the game to everybody that asked so why didn’t he come out with this lame excuse then ??? Because it’s simply not the facts !
Funny how you guys are here when theres an article below about some lunatic who says his team are the best in England…..
The fact you agree with Fran makes you sad.
Why cause Rodgers is singing a different song to last night ? Don’t be so ridiculous
No, but you never comment on the song of your own team…. Do they embarrass you that much?
I’m sure the Liverpool team find it hilarious that everyone is making such a fuss over nothing.
Things like this happen in work places all the time and it doesn’t have some hidden meaning. It was a great game to watch, Liverpool were the better team but the away game will be really tough.
And Mario took an absolutely brilliant under quiet a bit of pressure.
BR said he sorts these things all the time behind the camera. He said as manager he sorts all matters all the time in private.
Why should he do it in an interview and alienate players. This has to be done privately, what else was BR suppose to say in public?
there’s a nasty side to you luke.
Why didnt he say that after the game when interviewed or at the post match press conference. He must be related to Enda Kenny
I wish people would stay on topic
Says the guy related to Enda…..