When we have four or five players out it's very difficult to get any continuity at this stage in our development. If I pull the blanket over my head my feet get cold, and if I push it over my feet my head gets cold.

It's one thing to tell a front man to drop off and fill in the hole behind, but if they don't know why they are doing it, it is not an easy thing to teach. But Rooney's just got it.

We don't man-mark anybody. I have never, ever done it in 27 years as a manager and I would never do it.

I don't like champagne, I don't smoke cigars, I haven't any real jewellery at all, apart from the 8 pieces of gold I picked up at Anfield, the most important relationship at a football club is not between the manager and the chairman, but the players and the fans.

Winning all the time is not necessarily good.

I've been very fortunate and privileged as a player and manager - I've been successful and picked up a lot of knowledge and experience.

What I'm not in the habit of doing, and I'm not going to do, is go around cap in hand pleading with players to play for their country.