Sidelined Houllier defends Anfield transfer record

GERARD HOULLIER has defended his transfer record at Liverpool by stressing that for every Anfield flop there was a player whose full value will become apparent in future seasons.

The Frenchman, who parted company with the club on Monday, pinpointed Senegalese striker El-Hadji Diouf as his worst signing in six years on Merseyside.

But he backed the youngsters he brought to the club to develop into Kop idols.

“I’ve prepared the team of the future with the likes of (Milan) Baros, (Djibril) Cisse, (John Arne) Riise, (Anthony) Le Tallec and (Florent) Sinama-Pongolle,” said Houllier.

“In the past few years we’ve spent £110m and sold players for £68m. That means the team has cost £42m over five or six years and if a club like Liverpool can’t accept that, then there’s problems.

“Moreover, they asked me to get the team into the Champions League every other year, and we’ve been in it for three out of four years.

“Taking part in that competition and winning the UEFA Cup, we’ve also recouped a lot of money.”

Houllier’s last signing as Anfield boss was striker Cisse, a French international who will join in July from Auxerre, with whom he was top-scorer.

“You’re never always successful with recruitment,” Houllier added.

“Newcastle have gone wrong with Hugo Viana, Arsenal with Francis Jeffers ... the disappointment (at Liverpool) has been El-Hadji Diouf because he has great potential but has never shown consistency.”

Appearing to refer to an episode against Celtic in March 2003, when Diouf spat at one of the Scottish club’s fans, Houllier said: “On occasions he has not given a good impression of the club, and that has no doubt in my mind affected people’s views.”

Houllier said he had felt vulnerable in his position “since the start of the season”.

“Bobby Robson told me on the day of our last match against Newcastle: ‘You’ve got people on your back who won’t give up’.”

Houllier has played down speculation he might be lined up to take charge of Monaco this summer, if Didier Deschamps is prised away from the Champions League runners-up.

He intends to travel to Euro 2004, where he will act as a UEFA match observer, before deciding when to return to club management.

Where that will be, he is not yet sure, but Houllier’s only Anfield regret is the timing of his dismissal.

“I’ll never forget the great relationship I had with the players, and all the messages they sent me,” he said.

“(Steven) Gerrard made a point of talking to me for 10 minutes. I hope Liverpool will continue to progress.”