Steven Gerrard will toughen up Liverpool’s promising players after being confirmed as the club’s new under-18 coach.
Gerrard’s promotion comes after an impressive roving spell which saw him working with varying age groups at the Reds’ academy since February.
The 36-year-old is set to complete his UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence this summer as he prepares to make tentative steps towards a future role in management.
And he has outlined his plans to shake things up in his new role at Liverpool’s centre of operations base in Kirkby.
He said: “My teams will be physical. I see that we need that more.
“It is important you channel it in the right way.
“As a player I got many, many tackles wrong and went over the top a few times and I had to come out and apologise and that is not something I want to put into young players at all.
“But you have to prepare them for the top and the top level is physical and demanding.
“It is not just about tackles and competing. I hate watching footballers and football when there is no physical side and they don’t compete.
“There is a show-boating mentality throughout academies now and a lot of kids who play the game think they have to do 10 lollipops or Cruyff turns to stand out.
“We all love a bit of skill and talent but the other side of the game is huge, it is massive.
“Too many try to model themselves on players like [Cristiano] Ronaldo when you have to look at yourself and say, ‘What are my strengths and how can I improve my weaknesses?’”