Liverpoolfc.tv: Kenny: This is reward for us all

After being confirmed as Liverpool's new full-time manager, Kenny Dalglish gave his first interview to Liverpoolfc.tv.

Many congratulations, Kenny, how does it feel to be the permanent manager of Liverpool Football Club once again?

I'm obviously delighted to be given the opportunity. When we came back in January there were no promises from anyone as to what to expect, so for me it was an ideal opportunity to go in and prove I had something to offer. As we've said before, the circumstances weren't ideal as a good man in Roy had lost his job, but that wasn't my decision. They asked me if I would come in and help and there was no hesitation from me. Because we have come in and done reasonably well they've asked if I'll be agreeable to coming in and doing it permanently, so for me it's a great reward for the work that's been done, not just by me but Steve, Sammy, the players and the people on the terraces and everyone else inside the club, including the owners.

We said at the outset if we stick together and work together then it makes it easier to produce better results and I think that is the main reason why results have improved, because people have stuck together. We've got the reward for that with a great number of points.

I really enjoy coming into work, I enjoy putting a smile on peoples faces, but it's not just what I've done. Everybody has made a huge contribution to help us get this far.

Have the last few months exceeded your expectations in terms of how far you could take the club forward in such a short space of time?

No, because we never set any expectations except to do the best we possibly could in every game. I never set any targets, but obviously we had to improve and we have done. We haven't finished the season yet, there are still a couple of games to go and the same principles will apply. We have a game on Sunday that we want to get the most we possibly can out of.

You arrived at a club struggling for results in the wrong half of the table in January - how have you managed to turn things around so quickly

We have moved forward because everybody has got together and we are a stronger force when we are the one unit. Obviously, off the pitch the appointments of Ian Ayre and Damien Comolli have helped to bring a bit of calm and a bit of authority. They are two good men and that helps. When you start getting good people working for the club it always helps.

When you look at what has been achieved over just a few months, how excited are you by what the future holds for Liverpool?

We wouldn't have taken it if we weren't excited about it. We're not going to make any predictions. We've got reward for what we have done but we have worked really hard to get here. If we continue to do that then we will get further rewards. We can't afford to think that because we are finishing strongly that's us set up for next year. When the game has finished you get whatever you deserve from that game and move forward to the next one. It's the same for us. There won't be any complacency for next year because of what's happened this year and we also shouldn't get carried away. We should be as Liverpool has always been and that's respectful to others. If we have business to do then we do it privately and as best as we possibly can.

Read the complete interview on Liverpoolfc.tv