Liverpool youth academy “unacceptable” – Borrell

(GSM) – Liverpool youth coach Rodolfo Borrell says the Liverpool youth academy is in an “unacceptable” condition. According to Borrell, the academy needs two years to be close to the right level.

“The reality of what we found here was unacceptable,” said Borrell, who joined nearly a year ago having previously worked with Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi in Barcelona’s youth system.

“The under-18s had no centre forward, no balance, no tactical level, no understanding of the game.

“We are working hard, but you can’t change things overnight.

“I think we have made a lot of progress over eight months, but we need to improve a lot more to get more players into the first team.

“I think if we keep working hard maybe in two years somebody can appear in the first team.”

This week the club signed England youth international Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton and Borrell believes that Liverpool ought to depend on English players.

“I agree – the best players to defend the Barca shirt are Catalan players, the best players to defend the Liverpool shirt are English players,” Borrell told the BBC.