[lfc-news] Dudek shrugs off blame - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 17 Dec 2004
Dudek shrugs off blame
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

JERZY DUDEK was 30 seconds from the perfect comeback on Tuesday.

Then the ball landed at the feet of Portsmouth's Matt Taylor, and
instead of being hailed for a steady return to Premiership duty, Dudek
awoke on Wednesday to more headlines questioning his ability.

The Pole has been the first to admit his mistakes in the past, but feels
it was unfair fingers were pointed at him for the late equaliser.

"I know what's been said but the most important thing for me is what the
manager thinks," said Dudek.

"I thought there was nothing I could do about their goal and I'm glad
the manager thinks the same way.

"I was waiting for a cross but the guy miskicked it and it flew towards
the net. I reacted and tried my best to save it but it was difficult.

"I managed to stop it but there wasn't much I could do about the fact
the ball then went straight to an attacker.

"After the game the manager said he was happy with my performance,
especially because it's my first Premiership game for two months."

Now he is back, Dudek has no intention of relinquishing a role he had
established in impressive style when he joined Liverpool from Feyenoord
in 2001.

Dudek's reputation was unblemished for 12 months, but since 2002 he and
Chris Kirkland have regularly rotated.

While the competition was presumed healthy for the club when the duo
signed on the same day, Dudek is not so sure it has had the desired effect.

"I've felt some English people probably don't want to support me as much
as they do Chris, but I think that's normal," says Dudek.

"People are patriotic and as a foreign player that's something you have
to accept when you go to another country. But I don't think that's been
a good situation for the club.

"I don't think it helps the atmosphere in the team.

"I'd like all the speculation about which goalkeeper should play to stop
now, but whenever you don't get a result, someone has to be responsible
and it's usually the goalkeeper. First it was me and then it was the
same for Chris.

"I'm very happy to be back in the side now because I've waited for my
moment. The manager told me at the start of the season there would be a
time when Chris would play a lot of games because he needs to see every
player at the club so he can judge for himself everyone's qualities.

"I wasn't angry about that decision. I understand why the manager wanted
to see Chris in goal.

"Now the manager has said to me: 'Okay, you will have some games now'.
It's unfortunate for Chris he is injured, but good for me he has brought
me back.

"I have to think professionally and try to make sure I do everything I
can to stay in the side. I'm full of confidence I can stay where I am.

"The period out has been very important for me. I've worked hard and
given myself time to prepare for the moment I returned. Now I want to
get the payback.

"What I would like most is some stability. I had a good relationship
with Joe Corrigan, but the training was a lot different than it is now.
"When I first came to Liverpool it was new to me. Now, the new ideas are
the old methods which I used before I came to Liverpool.

"We work much more technically and create more game situations. I like
that. "I'm not saying it's better or worse, just different, and I prefer
this. It's like I've gone back to the basics and I'm happy with my work
over the last six months."

Goalkeepers are known to mature with age. The performance of Nigel
Martyn last week was proof.

Dudek believes if he has the confidence of those around him, there is no
reason why he cannot re-establish the image he had in 2002 as one of the
world's best.

"When I came to Liverpool I felt fine. I was in good form," he recalled.

"When I'm asked where it started to go not so well, I always go back to
the situation after the World Cup which took away my confidence.

"As a goalkeeper, that's what you need more than anything. You learn a
lot along the way, but even when you are learning you must always
perform as a goalkeeper - especially at Liverpool where every game is
important and every mistake is noticed.

"People will talk every time you make a mistake and start to doubt you.
I have to say that was something I didn't expect after I'd played so
well for a full season. I thought people would accept a few mistakes
after I'd proved myself for so long."


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