Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has dismissed reports linking him with a move to Manchester City.
With Manuel Pellegrini under increasing pressure at the Etihad Stadium, many top European managers have been linked with replacing the Chilean and Rodgers’ name has been mentioned alongside the likes of Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
However, the Northern Irish manager has rejected such talk and insisted that he wants to remain at Anfield for some-time yet.
“That doesn’t distract me,” he told reporters when questioned about the links with City. “I chose to come to Liverpool because I hoped I could be here for many years.
“The speculation is just the nature of football I think. I remember earlier this season playing Ludogorets away and as I walked off I saw a banner that said ‘Rodgers Out’ so I never get too carried away.
“I always have that in the back of my mind, although it was near the dugout and wasn’t someone with the away supporters. As long as the people here at Liverpool, the board, the supporters and the players are ultimately happy with the work, I would love to be here for as long as I can.
“We are working into an exciting phase after this season where hopefully, if we get young players tied to contracts, that will allow us to win trophies with this way of working. We’re on the way there and it’s about making the steps to challenge for major honours consistently and to win them. That’s what we want to do.”
Rodgers will hit four years in charge at Liverpool next season, his longest role in management, and he has spoken about finding his preferred destination.
“If I’m here after this year, and touch wood I go into the fourth year, this will be the longest period in any role I’ve been in football.
“After three years I’ve always moved a role or a job, from youth football right the way through. But I’ve always seen Liverpool as a club that, all being well, was going to be a destination for me not somewhere that was part of the journey.
“I really wanted to be here, to follow some incredible managers with a support that is unrivalled, and to have success knowing that I was young enough to create and build something. That is why I came here. I know I need to justify that by working well and winning trophies and hopefully that is the next step.
“For me there is great excitement at Liverpool with the young players coming through, with the development of the stadium, more supporters coming in because of that, and travelling the world promoting the club.
“Where do you go from Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world? It is all hypothetical, Liverpool might sack me and then I need to be in work, but I’ve signed a deal here and hopefully I’ll earn enough time to warrant another one.”