Liam Bridcutt, Brighton and Hove Albion. Picture: Clive Gee/EMPICS

Brighton star hails Liverpool boss ahead of Chelsea test

Friday, August 3, 2012
5:39 PM

Liam Bridcutt is facing his former club

Brighton star Liam Bridcutt is excited by the prospect of facing Chelsea in tomorrow’s pre-season friendly and hailed Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers for the work he did in west London.

The midfielder spent 14 years with the Stamford Bridge outfit before moving to the South coast and is grateful for the work the Blues did with him.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was the youth team manager at the time and Bridcutt paid tribute to his former manager.

“Chelsea helped me enormously in progressing in my career,” Bridcutt told the club’s official website.

“The club had a massive influence on me. As a kid growing up I wasn’t a midfielder, I was playing all over the place and did not have a set position.

“Chelsea groomed me into a holding midfielder and my youth manager at the time, Brendan Rodgers, was fantastic. He was a great guy to be around and he taught me a lot.

“I take everything I learnt as a youngster and try to put that into my game now. I used to watch clips of Claude Makelele, who plays in the same position, and I learnt a lot from him and I am still learning now.”

The 22-year-old believes the European champions will provide a stern test.

“I am excited as it is always good to play against top players and coming up against the best team in Europe is an added bonus,” Bridcutt told the club’s official site.

“As a club we have done very well to get this type of friendly and all of the boys are looking forward to it.

“The staff there were great with the youngsters and I have still got some good friends at Chelsea. It was a great experience to be at such a massive club, and it made me grow up a lot quicker.

“I always supported them as a kid and probably always will, so to play against them and see a few of my friends will be good on a personal note and be a positive test.

“I was disappointed when I left but looking at it now it is probably the best thing that has happened, and I am very pleased with how my career has gone since.”