Every manager has to put performance over the class and that is why whenever any player is not performing well on the field he needs to rest him no matter how big player he has been. Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is one such player who has been missing the field these days and his form is responsible for resting him open-endedly. Reds played last three games with Brad Jones which shows Brendan Rodgers is not interested in playing with Mignolet even on the Boxing Day. Although, Irish manager has ever been a great admirer of 26-year-old Belgian and now says he misses Mignolet a lot. It has just been one year when Mignolet made a switch from Sunderland to Anfield side at around nine million pounds tag, and initially, he impressed everyone with his wall like saves but off late he failed to carry on his earlier form hence manager had to sidelined him amid recent criticism of using out of form players.
Calling him a true professional who knows how to deal with the situation when you are ousted by the team, Rodgers said, “Simon’s response has been fantastic. People would think that his coming out of the team would have a negative effect on the group. But he’s been outstanding. His training’s been really good. Our goalkeeping coach John Achterberg and I sit down with him and studying his game, looking at the areas where we feel improvements can be made.”
He was as well supposed to explain his plans for the Belgian goalie especially for the Boxing Day game at Burnley and he explained, “I took him out to give him the chance to reflect and also to allow him to refocus on his game. Players need that at times. It was a really busy period and it was a difficult moment for the team. I haven’t lost any belief in him. He’s still an outstanding goalkeeper, and I’m sure when the time comes for him to return, he’ll be a better goalkeeper for it.”
Still, recalling him as one of the important team members of the squad, 41-year-old said, “Brad, over his career here at Liverpool, has been a number three or number two goalkeeper. When called upon, he’s come in and done very well. In my first season, he played quite a number of games and did very well. It’s been the same since he came in this time. He’s a very loyal goalkeeper. He loves working here at the club, and when he’s asked to come in, he fulfils that duty very well. He’s an important member of our squad.”