I grasped the opponent`s characters..."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Liverpool FC head coach Brendan Rodgers asks his players not to underestimate Indonesia XI, even though the Jacksen F Tiago side was recently defeated 0-7 by another English Premier League team, Arsenal.
Rodgers said Indonesia XI has some skillful players, furthermore they also add some new call-ups from the U-23 side.
"I grasped the opponent`s characters, it is a team with some good players, in terms of individual skills and techniques," he said here on Thursday.
The Liverpool FC brought their best players on their Indonesia preseason tour, except Luis Suarez and Jose Manuel "Pepe" Reina who are still on holiday after their participation in the FIFA Confederations Cup, and will later join the rest of the team when they visits Australia.
Rodgers said he prepared his best players, including some starlet which he hope will give a proper impact to the team in the forthcoming EPL season.
"Our team has undergone long and proper preparations, they are in a good conditions," the former Swansea gaffer said.
When entering the press conference room, Rodgers displayed a Liverpool`s jersey with "Jakarta 2013" on the back and hold Indonesian flag.
Rodgers brought 24 players for their first Indonesia visit namely Brad Jones, Simon Mignolet, Glen Johnson, Jose Enrique, Kolo Toure, Daniel Agger, Luis Alberto, Steven Gerrard, Iago Aspas, Philippe Coutinho, Oussama Assaidi, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Jay Spearing, Lucal Leiva, Joe Allen, Fabio Borini, Raheem Sterling, Martin Kelly, Martin Skrtel, Jon Flanagan, Andrew Wisdom, Jack Robinson and Jordon Ibe.
Rodgers actually named 28 players, the rest that did not join their teammates in Indonesia are Jose Manuel Reina, Sebastian Coates, Luis Suarez and Dani Pacheco.
Three players who just come back from their participation in FIFA Confederations Cup are Reina, Coates and Suarez who are scheduled to join teammates on preseason tour macth in Australia.
Meanwhile Dani Pacheco did not join the rest of his teammates because he is on the way to join Celta Vigo on long season loan.
After the first opening match of their preseason tour against Indonesia, Reds is going to fly to Melbourne, Australia on July 24 and Bangkok, Thailand on July 28.
(Reporting by Bayu Kuncahyo/Uu.G006/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013