Mario Balotelli: 'you don't have to be ... a d***head' with Brendan Rodgers
Never afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, Mario Balotelli spoke openly about his relationship with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in an interview with Tony Hodson from Sport on Thursday.
The Italian striker has come under increasing criticism since he signed with Liverpool in late August, largely due to his scoring woes. Balotelli has notched one goal in seven appearances for Rodgers' side, and is still in search of his first Premier League goal.
However, Balotelli believes that Rodgers can help him improve those numbers as he adjusts from a two-striker system to playing as a lone striker. Furthermore, he acknowledges that part of his struggles in front of goal are the result of not playing in the box often enough.
"He is very good, a strong character, and I think that comes out in the way the team plays," said Balotelli of Rodgers. "I think he can help me improve as a player. He is very open, everybody can talk to him, but first he looks at the person, and second he looks at the footballer. With Brendan, you need to be a good person - you don't have to be, how to you say it, a dickhead.
"I need to get in the box more. I don't do it enough, but it is something I am working to try to do more. I have never been a real, out-and-out striker - I have always been someone who goes around the pitch, you know?
"If it was my choice, I would always go with two strikers. It's the way I like to play, but Brendan asked me to play as the first striker. I understand that when the ball comes from wide on the left or right, I need to be in the box otherwise there might be no-one there at all.
"I can see already that the Liverpool fans really like me, although I know that maybe they are a little upset because I don't score. I see they appreciate that I am working hard, though, which is nice for me."
The full interview, which is worth a read, can be viewed here.