ANFIELD OF DREAMS
Liverpool’s US owners are building dynasty, says former chief executive
AYRE ON WINNING MENTALITY
The club’s US owners met such fierce criticism over furloughing non-playing members of staff at Anfield that they changed their minds.
They will now hope that matter has been put to bed – enabling the club to focus their efforts on domestic glory.
It is 30 years since the club were top dogs in the league.
But were it not for the coronavirus pandemic, it’s almost certain that Jurgen Klopp’s men would have already laid that ghost to rest.
As it is, the ending of their title charge continues to be shrouded in uncertainty.
Regardless of what happens in the months ahead, though, former CEO Ian Ayre is convinced the club will bounce back – and take their form this season into the next campaign.
In so doing, they will leave the rest playing catch-up and recreate Anfield’s dominance of the 1970s and 80s.
“I’ve been a Liverpool fan for 50 years and I’ve always said to people that we never do things the easy way,” said Ayre, from his MLS base in Nashville.
“Look at Istanbul, the League Cup final of 2012, Barcelona last year. It’s the Liverpool way, to some degree.
“They’ll either get it sorted and win it this year or they won’t, but, whatever happens, they’ll bounce back.
“If it’s not this year, then it will be next year. Jurgen and everybody would say, ‘Bring it on’, if they have to wait.
“When FSG bought Liverpool, one of the things John Henry said, right at the start, was that he wanted to build this team to win and to keep winning.
“He’s a very smart guy, I’ve got huge respect for him and what he says is completely right.
“Look at last year, we got so close to the title and won the Champions League.
“Then we’ve gone on to win the Super Cup and the World Club Championship and the club are on course to win the league. You don’t achieve that without having a solid team and a really solid foundation.
“That doesn’t go away overnight. This Liverpool team is very young in comparison to a lot of squads and they won’t have many players rotating out through age or contracts this summer.
“Whether they’re rightly allowed to win the league this year, what will be will be. But I’ve no doubt that, if it doesn’t happen this season, it will happen next season.”
Ayre is currently the CEO of Nashville SC, who saw their debut season in the MLS halted after just two matches.
When football might return anywhere in the world is up for debate, but Ayre believes that people’s health and well-being must remain the top priority.
And
Champions League: Club World Cup: UEFA Super Cup: League Cup: he is no fan of matches being played in empty stadiums, particularly in the MLS.
“It has to be when it’s safe and healthy for everyone to do it,” he said. “I think it’s important to keep an eye on the date and setting deadlines for when you hope to get there.
“But the most important thing is to make the decision at the right time when it’s best for everybody’s health and safety.
“I don’t really see the point of closed-door matches here. We don’t have the massive TV deals that the Premier League and some others have. Ours is very much a spectator sport. Our energy comes from the crowd and people buying tickets.
“That won’t be my decision, but it wasn’t something that we planned to do. In the lead-up to the shutdown, there was a lot of discussion around what we planned to do, but playing behind closed doors was never really discussed.
“For me, we put these spectacles on for fans to turn up to get among it and be a part of it. I’m hopeful that, when we do come back, we do so in full force and in front of full stadiums.”
2019 2019 (right) 2019 2012