Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that no conclusion will come out of the club’s disagreement with wantaway striker Luis Suarez if the player himself doesn’t apologise to the team or the coaching staff.
Rodgers and Suarez’s relationship is at breaking point after the two exchanged a war-of-words via the press last week than even made owner John W Henry speak out publically about the whole saga and the American was adamant that the club are right to not sell their striker, especially to their rivals Arsenal.
The Gunners have had two bids rejected by Liverpool already for the Uruguayan international and despite Rodgers and Henry both stating that the club will not sell Suarez, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is refusing to give up.
After Suarez opened up about the situation last week, he revealed that he was told by the club that he could leave if they do not achieve a Champions League spot, something that Liverpool didn’t as they finished last season in 7th place.
However, Rodgers then responded by saying no promises were broken between the two parties and he then forced Suarez to train alone until he apologised to everyone at the club for his behaviour.
Sources close to the striker claim that he is not prepared to apologise as he feels he has done nothing wrong and Rodgers has once again spoken in public about the situation and he says it will have no conclusion if the 26-year-old is not willing to say sorry.
He told the club website: “It is something that we have to do everything we can to fix.
“There has been a lot said and a lot reported, and we have made a stance, as a club and as a manager, of the commitment and the standards required.
“If you don’t have that commitment, and those standards, then you won’t play. It’s as simple as that.
“If we have got to sit and wait, then so be it. But this is a club that has got great values, and we hope that the situation can be resolved amicably, and I am sure it will be.
“There’s no problem between me and him, it is quite calm. But obviously I have got to respect the club and the team.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, if they’re not pulling their weight then they are letting down the club, the city and everyone who has stood by them.
“So until I get that assurance that we are going to get nothing but 100% commitment, then there will be no solution.”
Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
