Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has triggered the anger of manager Brendan Rodgers after swapping shirts with Real Madrid's Pepe at half-time in the 3-0 Champions League defeat at Anfield on Wednesday. Balotelli made the gesture despite what had went on in the first half, as Liverpool were trailing by three goals. The striker was substituted at half time.
"It is not something I stand for," Rodgers said. "If you want to do that, do it at the end of the game. It is something I will deal with." Rodgers, who was equally angry when defender Mamadou Sakho did the same thing with Samuel Eto'o at Chelsea last season, added: "We had an incident last year with a player and that was something we dealt with internally. It's something that doesn't happen here and shouldn't happen here."
Balotelli had a disappointing performance, adding to the poor showing in the 3-2 win against QPR in the Premier League last weekend. The Italian striker was replaced by Adam Lallana at half-time and Rodgers said: "It was purely tactical - I felt we needed a bit more movement centrally to occupy their centre-halves a bit more and I thought Raheem Sterling would do that. Adam Lallana came on and was tireless in his work rate. That is the minimum here at Liverpool - you need to press, you need to work. Young Adam came on and did that very well."
Liverpool play Hull in the Premier League on Saturday and Mario Balotelli is 21/20 at Bet365 to score a goal in that match.
Tomas.White 9 years ago
Amazing footballer. but I can not believe what is he doing with his life. He can be winner of Footballer of the year, but he is always doing bad decisions. His instinct is still there, but his self-confidence is very low. Coach is not helping, suporters need to believe in him. 20 millions will be paid of, he is kind of...
Amazing footballer. but I can not believe what is he doing with his life. He can be winner of Footballer of the year, but he is always doing bad decisions. His instinct is still there, but his self-confidence is very low. Coach is not helping, suporters need to believe in him. 20 millions will be paid of, he is kind of a guy who waits for big games to show all of his talent.
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Milaneli 9 years ago
Liverpool new players haven't done anything in this season so far. Except for Alberto Moreno who is really great. Most expensive player, Lazar Markovic is playing so bad that is unreal. That is not LM we all knew from Benfica. Also, Lalana, Balo, Lambert, Lovren. Maybe it is team chemistry but there is no excuses for the...
Liverpool new players haven't done anything in this season so far. Except for Alberto Moreno who is really great. Most expensive player, Lazar Markovic is playing so bad that is unreal. That is not LM we all knew from Benfica. Also, Lalana, Balo, Lambert, Lovren. Maybe it is team chemistry but there is no excuses for the poor play in team like Liverpool. They gotta get better if they want to achive something.
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timidi 9 years ago
@John Andrew Are you kidding man. "Very bad summer transfer period for Liverpool" I don't agree with you at all. Lovren is great defender and problem isn't in defense. For me problem is in team chemistry. On the paper they have stronger team than last year but something still isn't right. For me it is time to replace Brendan...
@John Andrew Are you kidding man. "Very bad summer transfer period for Liverpool" I don't agree with you at all. Lovren is great defender and problem isn't in defense. For me problem is in team chemistry. On the paper they have stronger team than last year but something still isn't right. For me it is time to replace Brendan and try to do something before it is too late.
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John Andrew 9 years ago
I agree wit madzgos and explosio4... Very bad summer transfer period for Liverpool. Mario was the biggest mistake, but Lovren!? Why him!? Liverpool sign's too much offensive players, without any quality midfielder and defender... Because for me Can and Lovren are not top class footballer's...
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explosio4 9 years ago
Rodgers for me is the biggest disappointment. He made that transfer, he was always talking how he can handle with Mario, and obviously that was big mistake. And now, he must admit that transfer politics was wrong. They made same mistake as Tottenham after Bale transfer.
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milanChoka 9 years ago
madzgos, you are not right, he was. If you can remember when he play in inter, he was very well player. In that time he had only eighteen years, and that wasn't problem to play with older players. He was strong, fast, explosive like none young player. Everyone was expected of him to become best player on the world. But...
madzgos, you are not right, he was. If you can remember when he play in inter, he was very well player. In that time he had only eighteen years, and that wasn't problem to play with older players. He was strong, fast, explosive like none young player. Everyone was expected of him to become best player on the world. But he was earn lot of money, and that was enough to stop play football.
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madzgos 9 years ago
@milanChoka I didn't think that he was one of the biggest talent in Europe. In Europe was too much players like him. What he accomplished so far? Nothing... Balotelli will never be one of the greatest players.
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madzgos 9 years ago
For me, Brendan Rodgers is guilty for situation in Liverpool now. Mario Balotelli is same Mario like a last two years, he is unchangeable. His transfer to Liverpool is strange... Does anyone expect from Mario to plays like Suarez or Sturidge??? He doesn't deserve to be on the bench.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
The best proof that Balotelli is disappointed managers is the fact that he is now absent from Italy squad.Even Antonio Conte stopped to trust in him.Super Mario needs to concentrate more on pitch and to retain confidence of both Conte and Rodgers if he wants su revive his career.Don't stop believing Mario!
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
@vlado.mikic.50 You're right dude.Nothing more can be expected from Mario Balotelli.His price is getting down.He had a chance to work with some of the beest managers in the world .He wroked with Mourinho,Rodgers,Mancini and none of them could change him.Every team that wants to buy him,knows that it is very risky deal.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
@milanChoka You are right.Money can change everyone.Big problem in football today is the fact that very young players can receive a big amount of money on daily bases.Also ,I think big problem in football are agents,which only want to earn some money,they don't think about their footballers in a good way.
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explosio4 9 years ago
That he exchanged shirt with Pepe in the first half is nothing strange. We watched it a million times, the last thing I remember I was at the World Cup in the match Italy-Uruguay. Problem is it did Balotelli, British journalists eager to criticize him. It is true that little game, and that nothing is brought Liverpool....
That he exchanged shirt with Pepe in the first half is nothing strange. We watched it a million times, the last thing I remember I was at the World Cup in the match Italy-Uruguay. Problem is it did Balotelli, British journalists eager to criticize him. It is true that little game, and that nothing is brought Liverpool. But it was a choice of Rodgers, and his bad judgment.
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cris1285 9 years ago
Brendans biggest mistake to bring here this celebrity. He just ruin the teamspirit, everywhere he shows up, and he didnt even has the performance to prove his qualities. Rodgers probably didnt know what he does, when he signed Balo :D
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vlado.mikic.50 9 years ago
Nothing else from him can not be expected.I do not know what's going on with this guy.Not the first and probably not the last scandal.Undeniable is his talent, but his attitude is very, very bad.My opinion is that he was at the top of football when he changed, and finally began to think about his actions.
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milanChoka 9 years ago
He was one of the biggest talent in europe. When he started to earn lot of money, he was very young. I think that is reason why is Mario player like he now. Worst striker in Premier league. Maybe Bernard think make him to be good striker like he done with Daniel, but that not gonna happen.
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Daniel Anderson 9 years ago
The most promising guy in last few years,but it looks like he is gonna be remembered only for him off-court troubles.He ain't kid anymore,he must start to work hard and finaly to start proving his quality,otherwise I can see him playing in China or India before he turns thirty...Brendan Rodgers is a top level manager,and...
The most promising guy in last few years,but it looks like he is gonna be remembered only for him off-court troubles.He ain't kid anymore,he must start to work hard and finaly to start proving his quality,otherwise I can see him playing in China or India before he turns thirty...Brendan Rodgers is a top level manager,and Liverpool is good place for him.Everything is on him.
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Milaneli 9 years ago
Haha, I really dont know what was Brendan thinking when he signed him.. Its not suprise that Milan sold him for 16milion.. That guy will allways be a joke if you ask me.. You play football, get all the money in the world for doing that, and everything everyone is talking about you is miles away from football pitch.. Liverpol...
Haha, I really dont know what was Brendan thinking when he signed him.. Its not suprise that Milan sold him for 16milion.. That guy will allways be a joke if you ask me.. You play football, get all the money in the world for doing that, and everything everyone is talking about you is miles away from football pitch.. Liverpol made huge mistake with him, he wont score 10 goals top..
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