Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been surprised by the departures of assistant manager Colin Pascoe and first team coach Mike Marsh from Anfield, reports the Daily Mirror.
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The duo were removed from manager Brendan Rodgers’s backroom staff last week after a review of the Reds’ disappointing season. The side finished sixth in the Premier League, and were knocked out of both the FA Cup and Capital One Cup at the semi-final stage. Their surrender to Aston Villa in the former was especially poor after they had high hopes of capping off Gerrard’s time at the club with a trophy.
The 35-year-old played throughout the campaign, but was unable to inspire the team in the same manner that he had in prior seasons. Even so, the midfielder is shocked at the sackings, and is interested in knowing why the decision to get rid of the pair was made. Both had come to the Merseyside club with Rodgers from Swansea City, and without them the Northern Irishman’s position at Anfield is greatly weakened.
The former England international said, speaking to the tabloid: “I was very surprised. For me the most important thing is who Liverpool sign to strengthen the team and squad.
“But I’ll be very interested to see who he puts in alongside him and also to hear Brendan speak to see why he has decided to make those decisions. I think Brendan obviously felt he needed to make some changes and freshen certain things up in his staff. But for me the key is always how you strengthen your team and squad on the pitch.”
He continued: “Brendan and the bosses have made those decisions and I’m looking in with a keen interest to see who he puts alongside him and how he tries to improve or strengthen his staff moving forward.
“A lot of names have been mentioned. But I can’t give you any insight or names because I’m now on the outside and don’t have that relationship with Brendan anymore where I might have got a bit of a nudge on it.”
Gerrard will be unable to exert any influence over proceedings having agreed to sign for MLS side LA Galaxy this summer. There is still a chance that the central midfielder could return on loan, but it is questionable how wise that would be after a season in which his waning powers were there for all to see.