Reina: Kenny just like Guardiola
Pepe Reina has compared Kenny Dalglish to Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola and believes the team have improved a great deal since our former No.7 returned as manager.
The Reds' stopper was a teammate of the Catalans' coach during their days at the Nou Camp and has watched from afar as he has made a spectacular transition from the pitch to the dugout.
Guardiola has attained legendary status as both a player and manager in Spain and our No.25 is well aware of the similarities with Dalglish.
"Guardiola is a bit younger than him of course," Reina joked as he spoke exclusively to LFC Weekly this week.
"But they have very similar backgrounds - icons as players and great managers as well. It is important that he [Dalglish] knows the club.
"He's a legend in Liverpool - and I mean a legend because sometimes that word is used too much for other people. Kenny knows exactly what the people (of the city) think and what the supporters want to see.
"Because he was a great player himself, he understands the point of view of a player and that means he knows how to set standards and what is acceptable. He makes everything much easier for us."
That relationship with the players has been a major catalyst in Liverpool's upturn in fortunes after Dalglish took the helm back in January.
Reina added: "We have improved since Kenny became manager. We have beaten the big teams. But it is important as players to repeat that in every game. We need to be consistent...with the aggression, commitment...everything.
"We cannot just perform against the top sides because a season is 10 months long. If we get the balance right, we'll be a lot, lot closer to where we want to be. We started this season and the last one not the best. Next time, we need to make sure that doesn't happen."
The full Reina interview where he talks about Suarez, Carroll, Flanagan and life after football, is in this week's LFC Weekly.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/reina-kenny-just-like-guardiola