• Premier League

New Dalglish deal 'only a matter of time'

ESPN staff
April 22, 2011
Lucas Leiva is beginning to win fans over at Liverpool © PA Photos
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Lucas Leiva claims he is fully expecting Kenny Dalglish to be the manager of Liverpool Football Club next season.

The Brazilian midfielder recently signed a new contract at Anfield, and he is currently producing his best football since arriving at the club under Rafael Benitez. Now seemingly established as a regular in Dalglish's starting XI, Lucas credits the Scot with reviving a club that had flirted with relegation prior to his arrival.

Liverpool still have a slim chance of stealing fifth place in the Premier League and a guaranteed Europa League spot for next season, which would be considered a major success after the mess that Dalglish inherited from Roy Hodgson. However, Liverpool's owners are yet to confirm Dalglish as the manager beyond the end of the season, something Lucas expects to change.

"The way he came to the club and the way he changed a lot, it is just a matter of time [before] he will agree his new deal," said the 24-year-old. "As players we just have to hope he will be here next year with us. We will try to win the next five games, if we do that we will be helping him as well.

"Kenny and Steve Clarke have done really well. They have changed the principles of the training sessions with Sammy Lee, who has been here a few years already. The way they have changed things, giving all the team confidence, is really important. Kenny is the key to keeping everyone together and keep the confidence of everyone."

Following a run of results that has seen Liverpool beat three of the top four and draw with Arsenal, even star players like Pepe Reina now appear to be open to committing to Dalglish's revolution. Lucas is in no doubt that the club has the right man to get the Reds back into title contention in the future.

"One of the things I really like about Kenny is he treats everyone the same," he said. "It doesn't matter if you are young or a senior player, everyone has the same importance in the club and it gives everyone a big lift.

"We are together, more united. It is difficult to explain, but I feel the dressing room is much better now than it was before. We didn't have before the atmosphere that we have now in the dressing room. The relationship is not just professional, we have become more friends than before and that's helped a lot on the pitch.

"When you like your team-mates you try to help them a lot and that's that we are doing. The spirit has been really good. All the players are really looking forward to the future. The only way we will change things is if we are together.

"Kenny's a manager that doesn't say a lot but when he does it's spot-on."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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