One on One | Liverpool’s Robertson on how they turn their season around

0:02I still believe in this squad, I still believe in every single player in this changing room and I believe the good times will come again. The standards of this football club has been set for years and years and years and when you become below that then the criticism becomes higher and higher It's usually difficult when you're in this kind of run of form and the results that we've been having It's not a good moment for us of course but it's up to us to try and turn it around We have to walk before we can run and we have to do that quickly and we have to build on hopefully a good performance And if we do that, then I do believe, you know, come April, May time, we'll be in a lot better position than we're in just now.

0:43Hello, welcome back to One on One from Sky Sports. It's the podcast that brings you conversations with some of the biggest names in the football world. I'm Juliet Farrington. Joe's busy this week being all swanky with Sky and Baller League and also recording some more interviews for this pod. So you're kind of left with me this week. and one of the nicest people in football. Because this week, I've been to Liverpool's training ground in Kirby and had a conversation with the team's vice-captain, Andy Robertson, MBE. And if there was ever an example of the highs and lows of football, it's him. Because inside a week, he went from elation and an earthquake, if you hadn't heard, the celebrations at Hampden Park caused a little bit of a ripple, from leading Scotland to next year's World Cup as captain to the frustration and disappointment of Liverpool going down to their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games.

1:36And that, of course, was at the weekend to Nottingham Forest, but he was really open and honest and also in good form, considering when I sat down with him on Monday morning, we talked about Liverpool's form and how the team are going to go about sorting it out to Scotland and what it means to him and his friends and his family and also what the future holds after the summer of next year. I also asked him about Harry Maguire and that photo when they both signed for Hall City on the same day. So we start with Liverpool and how the team go about sorting that out on the pitch. In the words of Vice-Captain Andy Robertson, here he is.

2:12Hutchinson finding a way through, smart stop from Alisson, and Gibbs-White finishes the job, surely for Nottingham Forest. Liverpool just fast asleep with the quick taking of this free kick. and they just can't cope. They're just not organising quickly enough. Andy, thanks for joining us. You are very much the man of the moment right now, what with Scotland. We'll talk about that in a moment. But first, it's a tough time at the moment, isn't it? From a club point of view for you. Yeah. Extremely tough. It's not something that people expect of us. So it's hugely difficult when you're in this kind of run of form and the results that we've been having.

2:56So yeah, it's not a good moment for us, of course, but it's up to us to try and turn it around. We know that we are the ones responsible for it. We know we're also the ones that can try and get us out of it. So it's up to us to try and make that possible, to try and help climb the table again, because we're in a position that is not acceptable for Liverpool. But we've still got time on our hands, we've still got a lot of games to play, but we need to get back to doing the basics right. We need to get back to being consistent. and if we do that then I believe we can turn it around. We're just in a very, very difficult moment and we have to get out of this.

3:32But you don't get out of it by just speaking about it and like I said many times I'm obviously here speaking to you guys because I have to. I'd rather sort it out with my team on the pitch and that will take a lot of hard work by the looks of it. Virgil was pretty strong with his comments after the defeat on Saturday. You're really strong, aren't you, as well on standards and values of this football club. What have you been saying? Yeah, I think it's exactly what, you know, very similar to what Virgil said. You know, the standards of this football club has been set for years and years and years.

4:04And when you become below that, then the criticism becomes higher and higher. And, you know, we can't have any problems with, you know, the criticism that's coming our way at the minute. It's justified because of the position we're in, the results we've been having. But like I said, also it's up to us to now stay together. It's up to us to try and bring the best version of ourselves. And if we do that, then we have enough quality in the squad that we'll get better results. But it's up to us to show that every single day, whether that's at the training ground, whether that's on the pitch. We have to outwork everyone now because we're in a position that we don't want to be in.

4:42So that's the situation we're in. But it's important now that people don't lose the belief in their ability. the confidence that they have and it's important that we all stick together within the training ground and if we do that then that gives us the best possible chance to get out of this but we obviously need to start showing consistency in our work again that's been a problem and if we do that then I do believe that the results will turn for us and we'll start climbing that table again You talk about the importance not to lose that confidence and belief has some of it gone in this moment in time though?

5:15Potentially you know you probably need to ask individuals on that but it's up to the experienced lads to make sure that that doesn't happen because you don't turn into a world class player overnight but you also don't turn into a bad player overnight and I think that's always been the case people can you know one game you're the best player in the world the next game you're wanting benched and the worst player in the world and that's the world we live in so it's important that the lads aren't maybe too much on social media the lads aren't reading too much or listening to too much and we try and stay in our own bubble.

5:48I think that's always what the experienced lads here, the older lads have done so well over the years and it's important now that we all do that more so than ever because I still believe in this squad, I still believe in every single player in this changing room and I believe the good times will come again. But we need to show it and we need to show it sooner rather than later because it's now going on for too long for being at Liverpool and the league position isn't great and the only way by doing that is playing better. by working harder and if we do that then hopefully we start climbing it again.

6:19And you've got that experience of it happening at Liverpool before and there have been tough moments haven't there and you have got yourself out of it as a group of players, as a team. Yeah I think obviously if I go back to the Covid season, we were top of the league at Christmas and then we had such a bad run of form in January, February time and obviously we had the centre back crisis at that moment where it looked as if anyone played that position, just got injured on that game and that was hugely frustrating and then obviously I think it was maybe the 22-23 season where we just got top four or sorry we missed out in top four that was very similar we were going along quite nicely and then we had a bad moment and couldn't quite find our way out of it and nearly got out of it at the end but just fell short so we've still got a lot of games to play and I think that's the most important thing and that's the only positive we can take from this because obviously what are we 12-13 games in so there's still a lot of games to play in the Premier League and we have to get better and we have to win football matches to get to where we want to be.

7:19But we have to walk before we can run and we have to do that quickly and we have to build on, hopefully, a good performance and build on that confidence and then take it from there. And if we do that, then I do believe come April, May time, we'll be in a lot better position than we're in just now. Last one on this. Fans don't usually leave Anfield early, do they? But you would have noticed that on Saturday too. what message can you send out to them to keep believing in what you're trying to do to get yourself out of this? Yeah, look, I've been very lucky that I've probably not experienced that too many times since I've been here.

7:56But obviously Saturday was evident at the final whistle that most people had left and I do not blame them one single bit. Three-0 down at home to Nottingham Forest is unacceptable. and I've got no problems with them leaving. But the important thing is they try and stick with us because we know how powerful Anfield can be when at its best and that's when the players are at their best and the fans are at their best and we know that we've been below par so that makes the fans end below par because we've not given them anything to shout about and we have to give them something to shout about again.

8:33We need to give them something to celebrate, something to watch that they're enjoying watching and I don't think we're doing that enough at the minute. And then, of course, our away form has to improve as well and our away ends are always sold out and we never take that for granted that the fact that these fans follow us up and down the country, they follow us abroad, they follow us everywhere we go and we never take that for granted but we also need to give them something to shout about again as well. I think we just need to improve in every aspect of our game at the minute and if we do that then we know that our fans are the best and we know that they'll then react off that, but we need to give them something to react off.

9:13You've come a long way since that tweet, that post. Twitter, now X, 2012, life is rubbish at this age with no money. Wow, look where you are now. Yeah, obviously people bring that up a lot and things like that and it's obviously something nice to look back on, but I think what's served me well in my career so far is I always look forward. You know, I don't look back too much. I think once I retire, I'll maybe sit down with you and we can go through every little bit of detail and how we ended up here. But, you know, for just now, you know, you always have to look forward. You can't change your past.

9:49Not that I would, I wouldn't change much of my past. I've been very happy with it. But now I just always look forward and always look forward to the next game and the next challenge ahead because, you know, football is, you know, life in the fast lane. Everything comes at you fast. and obviously after Saturday's disappointment, we've got a big game on Wednesday and then we've got no time to recover. We've got another big game at the weekend and I think if you stop to look back, you kind of get left behind. So I've always been one to kind of keep moving forward. Scotland have qualified for their first Men's World Cup for 28 years after substitute Kieran Tierney produced a superb strike in the 93rd minute.

10:27Before then, Kenny McLean scored from the halfway line to complete the 4-2 win. How do you though deal with life in the fast lane With so much going on, so much in your life So much has changed You've won so many things And now you're going to a World Cup Yeah, I think it's I think on that it's just trying to get the right balance within your life I think obviously football takes over it There's so much to do and everything like that But then away from it it's important that you switch off I think the older you get, the more years you're involved in it, you have to find the things that help switch you off from football and take you away from that.

11:10And I think as the years have got on, I've done that a lot better and it gives you a lot more balance within your life. But yeah, obviously qualifying for a World Cup is probably the pinnacle. It was the highest of highs and I'm delighted we managed to achieve it. Causing an earthquake in the process as well with all those celebrations. emotional times as well because you always remember I guess the people who've helped you achieve that letting you and allowing you to live your dream Yeah and a lot of the people were in the stadium on that night on Tuesday and that's the most important thing for me to have my family in there, to have my friends in there the people that have supported me all the way through this all the way through the journey, all the way through the process and especially when it comes to Scotland at times when especially when I was first made captain we were maybe playing in front of 15 ,000, 20 ,000 people the connection between the team and the fans wasn't great, the team wasn't producing on the pitch but out of that 15 ,000 people my family were still always there my friends were always still there and now for them to now experience the highs as well and I think that's why all the lads were probably so emotional after the game and the players lounge and things like that, seeing their wives seen their mum and dad, seen how much it meant to them as well as us then yeah I think there was a few tears in the players lounge that's for sure and it just shows you how much it means to them as well as you.

12:36Did it make the difference as well because you were in your own country doing it? Yeah I think you always feel the weight of your country on you that little bit more. You know I think I said that before the game when I was younger I didn't have dreams of playing with Liverpool because I never knew where my life would take me but I did have dreams of playing with Scotland and I think that's the same for the whole squad you never know where your career is going to take you obviously going from Queen's Park Dundee United, Hull, Liverpool I didn't know that was the journey I was going to take but I knew if I could make it as a professional footballer then what I wanted to do was play with Scotland and that's that was the only definite and I think that's the same for all the lads so I think that then carries a little bit more pressure and a little bit more burden because you want to make that country successful Wednesday after the game and had a little walk around town and stuff to see how many people were so happy and how buzzing they were was such a good feeling and the amount of messages I got off maybe people I've not heard from in a while and things like that just to see how happy it made them obviously makes a lot and it makes you feel so proud to be Scottish Were the shirts still on the following day?

13:43No, no, no, they were off they were off thankfully but obviously these shirts will be kept for a long time and yeah, it was one of the more special nights for our country. But you're also setting it for the future generation to come through, the players that are going to come through after you because the more you achieve with Scotland, the better ranking in the future they will have and maybe an easier pathway to reach these tournaments that you've done two major tournaments so far and now you're at a World Cup. Yeah, that's obviously, you know, even if you think about teenagers and things like that, that would definitely help them for the Scotland team.

14:19but I wouldn't know this for a fact but I guarantee this week in terms of football academies and people that are playing football probably the numbers would have been high in Scotland. Obviously as younger kids and things like that I think that would have gave people a buzz to go out and kick a ball around with their friends and things like that. Little boys and girls running around the school playground kicking a ball about and with their Scotland scarves on or whatever then that means everything to us because it will hopefully help Scotland in 20 years time you know become an even better nation but also that we don't have to wait 28 years to qualify for another World Cup and that's what we've got to get to that's the aim we've got to get to and I think this squad has you know kind of shown that pathway and like you said hopefully it can make it a little bit more easier in terms of qualification if we you know go up pots or things like that but yeah we've definitely brought the buzz back to back to Scotland in terms of football and I think that's the that's the most pleasing thing The one thing I heard John McGinn say when I was at Aston Villa recently was that people say you're past your peak when you get into your 30s but he still very much feels he has so much more to offer and to give and I'm guessing you feel the same way too I'm not sure he's got a lot more to offer yeah look that's the thing I think in football I think when you turn 30 people just write you off I think the difficulty with turning 30 is if you have one bad game it's down to your age if you're 29 you play a bad game it's just one bad game if you're 30 all of a sudden it's because of your age so I think that's what everyone feels everyone feels it when you get to football but yeah look we still believe obviously the Scotland squad we've got a good few young players but we do have older players in terms of football terms in terms of in their 30s and things like that but we all do believe that we've still got more to give and I think we've shown that in this qualifying campaign at the start of it nobody gave us a chance everyone thought we would finish third Greece really good team Denmark really good team and they thought that we would be obviously pot three and we'd stay in third position.

16:19But I think the belief that we had in our squad and the belief we had from our manager and the coaches then gave us the belief that we could go and win this group. And we always believed it. And then sometimes the performances weren't great, but we kept picking up points and that was the most important thing. And thankfully our dreams became a reality. But you must still feel as a player here at Liverpool that you still have so much more to give too. Oh yeah, 100%. I think I've showed that this season and obviously it's not been a great season but in terms of games I've played I believe I've shown that and yeah, my body feels good I feel good within my mind and things like that and I still believe I've got a lot to offer whether that's at Liverpool whether that's somewhere else or whatever level that's at but I'm only 31 I still believe in that I've had a really good Early 30s Early 30s, exactly and I still believe I've got a lot to offer in football and that's the most important thing and you know like I said this season I've felt really good in terms of getting a proper pre-season this time feel fit feel strong so yeah as long as that continues then I believe I can contribute anything and I think I've shown that this season so far and you know hopefully that can continue for club and country until you know obviously until June and July Do you look beyond June and July?

17:39No not at all I don't look beyond Wednesday to be honest that's you know I think like I said football happens so fast but I don't look beyond any I just try and enjoy the moments that I'm in I think there's so much that can go on in football there's so much things that can change as you can see I think obviously after us winning the first five Premier League games nobody would have expected us to be then 11th after you know 12-13 games so I think that proves you how quickly things can change in football and things like that and yeah I live in the moment I enjoy the moment and I also look forward to what's ahead so obviously the next game is quickly on the horizon and we get fully prepared for that and try and give your best for the team The one thing I've always wanted to ask you you and Harry Maguire Hull City that picture do you two still stay in touch?

18:30Yeah I still see Harry I still see Harry It's iconic it's like become one of those pictures of when you're both side Yeah I still see Harry you know I think we live pretty close to each other so we always bump into each other and and things like that and obviously signing on the same day for Hull City we probably never expected to to be where we're we're both at how successful he's been you know for club and country you know he's a fantastic player fantastic person as well and yeah I was very lucky to spend you know a good couple of years with him at Hull and sign the same day and kind of we were both young at that time so we tried to relax our nerves and things like that going first day into training kind of clung on to each other at the start.

19:10But yeah, look, he's had an amazing career so far and he's probably still got a lot to achieve as well. And I'm sure he'll be looking forward to going to the World Cup of England as well. And very lastly, why do you think you're so well liked? Why are you just normal? Oh, I'm not sure about that. I never let other people talk about that. But yeah, look, I think the one thing that the people closest to me say is, you know, football's not changed me and I think that's the most important thing you know some people get caught in the headlights and start changing you know personality or or changing the people around you you know my my best friends are still my best friends from school my my family are still as close as ever as I've ever been so you know things like that always make a always make a difference and they always keep me grounded and yeah and I think that's helped me helped me along the way.

19:57Lovely thank you thank you very much. Genuinely you won't find one person who says a bad word about Andy Robertson And maybe the press officer, Kate, who was only jesting, though, because he had to shoot straight afterwards. So he couldn't really hang around long. He wasn't the only Liverpool player as well, returning from international duty, having qualified for next year's World Cup. But he was the one that everyone was so happy for. Also, the words of encouragement for his club teammates and supporters that they will get back Liverpool to what so many have been used to seeing over the years.

20:28Similar, really, to what Virgil van Dijk told me straight after the defeat to Forrest. that's it for this episode we'll be back with more one on one soon with me and Joe we're available 24-7 wherever you get your pods from each and every Wednesday so pop us a follow and you won't miss one thanks for listening we'll see you soon

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