Forget my record... just win it, says Liverpool boss Dalglish

Making history has been a constant theme in Kenny Dalglish’s glittering career and, as he prepares to return to Wembley, it beckons again for the Liverpool legend.
Should Liverpool see off Cardiff’s challenge to win the Carling Cup, Dalglish will become only the third manager, following his great rival Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, to complete a domestic clean sweep of trophies.
What would set Dalglish apart, though, is that he also accomplished the feat during his playing days. In a cabinet that is festooned with accolades, the prospect off finding space for another keepsake is privately captivating the Scot.

Not about me: Kenny Dalglish says the Carling Cup final is about the players and not him

But personal gain will be the furthest thing from his mind when he leads his team out on Sunday afternoon. The pressing concern for Dalglish centres around getting Liverpool back in the winning habit and this is not an opportunity that he will allow to be squandered.

 

‘It doesn’t really matter (about) me,’ said Dalglish, whose has amassed 24 major honours playing for Celtic and Liverpool. ‘The football club is more important than me. We are not going for selfishness or individual glory. We are going (to Wembley) to better this football club.
‘It doesn’t matter who is involved.  The football club is more important than us and the glory and success is more important than us. That is not to say when you get success you don’t enjoy it.  Of course you do. But the football club has to come first.’
In the days when Dalglish was initially at Anfield, first tended to be the place they occupied in the league and Wembley was a second home.

Four time winner: Kenny Dalglish last won the League Cup in 1984 when a Liverpool player

He made his Liverpool debut there in the 1977 Charity Shield against Manchester United – “a memorable 0-0 draw” was his reflection –while his first season culminated with him scoring the goal that retained the European Cup against the Belgian side FC Brugge.
Whether it is down to modesty, or just simple recalcitrance, Dalglish will not open up a great deal on what memories he has of the iconic venue, other than saying the 1989 FA Cup final – which came in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster – ranks as his most emotive visit.

Mixed emotions: Kenny Dalglish celebrates winning the FA Cup at Wembley with Liverpool but lost as manager of Newcastle in 1998

Return this weekend, however, will be similarly emotional. Dalglish fought back tears on the touchline after Liverpool had conquered Manchester City in the semi-final and there is little doubt he will be bursting with pride when he walks down the tunnel.
‘Going back to Wembley is a fantastic reward for the support and loyalty everyone has shown,’ said Dalglish, who won the League Cup four times as a player but lost the sole final he guided Liverpool to as manager in 1987 against Arsenal.

A long wait: Liverpool have not played at Wembley since 1996

‘Wembley is special for anyone who goes there, even if it is not for a cup final. It was a place we used to visit pretty regularly and everyone is trying to get back a bit closer to those days. We have not been a contender for many of the competitions, certainly not domestically.
‘We want to be challenging more than we have done in the past. If this (day) helps, it shows what can be done with hard work. The manager should be proud of what his football team has achieved. But this is not about myself. This is about the players.’

So could victory over Cardiff herald a new era of success for Dalglish and this latest Anfield collective?
‘They have given themselves a chance,’ said Dalglish. ‘We are not going to jump ahead of ourselves but we have got a huge opportunity to make this season successful.’