Rodriguez confident of change in fortunes

IN times of great adversity it often pays to have faith in the power of positive thinking and that message was broadcast loud and clear at Melwood yesterday.

While Rafa Benitez attempted to defuse the tension by taking a piece of paper from his pocket and talking about facts - just as he did before Liverpool's trip to Stoke City last year - this time Alex Ferguson was not central to the plot.

Benitez, with a wry smile, simply illustrated the facts now facing Liverpool were poor form, a worrying position in the league table and an injury list containing three of his star players; whatever he has lost this season, clearly it is not his sense of humour.

So even though he was confronted by a battery of cameras, several television crews, a number of radio stations and a posse of journalists, Benitez kept his sangfroid, insisting results will turn, his latest acquisition was following a similar mantra.

Maxi Rodriguez could have been forgiven had he asked for his deal to renegotiated after watching Wednesday night's FA Cup debacle against Reading but, listening to him speak for the first time, there was no suggestion he regretted his move from Atletico Madrid.

If anything, Liverpool's new number 17 - who has signed a three-and-a-half year contract - is delighted to have swapped La Liga for the Premier League and is adamant that this sequence of results will prove temporary.

The Argentine international, you see, sought advice from two men he knows well - namely Fernando Torres and his compatriot Javier Mascherano; both urged him to look past Liverpool's recent form and survey the bigger picture.

With that in mind, then, it's no surprise to hear Rodriguez is itching to make his debut; whether that will be from the first whistle against Stoke City today, or as an impact performer from the bench, it doesn't matter - all he wants to do is help.

"Liverpool is a massive club but, as soon as they were mentioned to me, I didn't think twice," said Rodriguez. "It wouldn't be the start that everyone had dreamed of but all the players are convinced that we will turn things around.

"The main thing is to have a strong belief and a strong mentality. With a couple of results and a couple of victories, you will see this team start to climb the table and we will increase our belief and confidence. We will turn things around.

"When you come to a club like this, you don't look at recent form. It doesn't matter whether form is going with you or against you. You have got that desire to work hard, to make the team more competitive and try to show that you deserve your place in the side.

"I spoke with Javier and Fernando a lot. They are convinced, just as much as I am, that we will turn things around. They haven't given an explanation as to why results have gone so badly - what I would say is that this happens sometimes in football.

"You can have a bad run in the middle of the season. What then becomes important is to stop concentrating on the negative side of things and think positively; we have to think that we can get positive results. Javier and Fernando agree, I agree, that hard work is most important.

"I can guarantee that I will be doing lots of hard work for the team, putting my body on the line for the team and my-team-mates. That is important. But, at the same time, if I can chip in with a few goals, that would be nice and would help the team out."

Having spent nine years plying his trade in Spain, it is inevitable that Rodriguez will require a period to become attuned to the Liverpool Way but he has great confidence it won't take long to get in sync with his new colleagues.

If he could hit the ground running, though, it would be an enormous help to Benitez and Company, particularly as the attacking triumvirate of Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun are all facing spells on the sidelines.

Technically gifted, direct and possessing a healthy goals to games ratio, Rodriguez will provide Benitez with more attacking options just when they are needed; if his impressive rhetoric is anything to go by, the 29-year-old could easily prove himself to be a big hit.

"I think I will settle in quickly," he said. "Football is the same game all the world over but, obviously, it is a little bit more high tempo than La Liga. Let's hope that the settling in period is made quicker by some good results.

"I've scored a few goals for Atletico and the national side and if I can bring that to Liverpool that would be great. It is bad news that we are going to be without Fernando, Steven and Yossi and, if I'm honest, any team in the world would miss them.

"But it's not any added pressure on me. Although those players might be the backbone of the side, myself and everyone else in the squad has to work hard, make up for their absence and make sure that we deliver.

"This is a great club with great tradition.

"You don't change your mind on the back of a short period of results. Liverpool is a club that I have always liked.

"It is a massive club to come to and I am determined to do my best. That's why I have come here."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.