The excuse isn't over yet - Gh
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 4:26 amFormer Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has found another reason for the Reds' poor displays under him. He believes he should have taken more rest after his heart surgery and that he returned to work too soon.
The Frenchman, who ended his six-year reign at Anfield this summer, said both he and the club paid the price for his swift comeback after going under the surgeon's knife in 2001.
"My one regret about the six seasons I spent with Liverpool is that I returned too soon after my heart operation," Houllier said.
"It had been five months since I handed over to Phil Thompson, and before we played Roma in a Champions League game I thought I'd give the team an extra one per cent of energy if I sat on the bench."
"That is what happened, as we won 2-0. But my mistake was to not take a break after that match."
"We finished the season second in the Premiership with 80 points. But I was tired, and I think we paid the price the following season."
The Frenchman, who ended his six-year reign at Anfield this summer, said both he and the club paid the price for his swift comeback after going under the surgeon's knife in 2001.
"My one regret about the six seasons I spent with Liverpool is that I returned too soon after my heart operation," Houllier said.
"It had been five months since I handed over to Phil Thompson, and before we played Roma in a Champions League game I thought I'd give the team an extra one per cent of energy if I sat on the bench."
"That is what happened, as we won 2-0. But my mistake was to not take a break after that match."
"We finished the season second in the Premiership with 80 points. But I was tired, and I think we paid the price the following season."
