Rodgers was asked about his approach to Wednesday’s game following the heavy loss in Germany and was adamant: “Wntil the day I finish, it will be aggressive. That’s how I work.
“They are a very good side, a very aggressive team, very attacking. For us, I think it’s that compactness in the team which is very important. We weren’t tight enough in certain moments in that [Dortmund] game and of course then you add to that quality that they finish with.”
“We deserve to be here in this competition. You know you’re going to have to defend well and be strong in your duels against a team that, in terms of a defensive organisation and how they work, are pretty unique. They are at the very highest level of that. So you’ve got to be able to deal with that, play through that pressure, but also be really strong defensively.
“It’s the aim we go into with every game, but going into the games at this level, it’s even more important.”
Asked if he would be more pragmatic, Rodgers replied: “I think if you look at this club here in Atalanta, it’s a great example. Obviously, they have totally different resources – they are way above us in terms of that.
“But if you look at the actual principle of it, they came through and arrived at this level. I’m sure the manager will tell you that they had some really harsh learning experiences in terms of the games that they played, especially against the top Premier League teams. It was a real, real challenge and the scorelines were difficult for them.
“But then they come away and they learn from that, I’m pretty sure, and stick with the philosophy, but still look at certain areas where they can be better and improve. And of course then you become better with that.
“So, if you’re talking about a pragmatic coach, it’s a different coach, I’m a different person. And that’s not to say that we go into the game and just be all out at attack, all out front foot. That’s not how it is. But if a coach’s DNA is to sit back and be that, then that’s not me. And it won’t be. It won’t be. It’s as simple as that.”
MAN-MARKING?
“It’s more than the man-marking, it’s that really aggressive style, how they man-mark, how they cover the game is also the best for me in world football. We experienced that, but at a slightly lesser level, but it’s still the same principle. When you play against teams that are very aggressive and press them forward, you have to be very vertical in your football, so you have to look to play forwards. You have to be able to be good in the duels, so you have to be able to take the ball under pressure.
“You have to be able to connect the game quickly, one and two touch. You also have to be able to stay on the ball and eliminate the pressure on dribbles. It’ll be very much a different game from what you would normally watch most weeks, if you don’t watch Atalanta a lot, because lots of teams will play with the zone pressure. Atalanta really test you to the limit on that individual duel.
“Again, it’s having that belief and having those patterns that can take you through that pressure. Of course, when you see lots of teams play against Atalanta, they will obviously go a lot more direct, because there’s space to play into that. “
