'It's an honour to follow greats'

The Spaniard was promoted from his role as U18 coach in an end of season revamp at the club's Academy and admits he was humbled when he learned that some of the Reds' finest managers had cut their teeth in the dugout while with the second-string.

The former Barcelona man also spoke about his plans for pre-season and his relationship with Kenny Dalglish.

Here he gives Liverpoolfc.tv his first interview as the newly-installed reserve team coach.

Rodolfo, this week you've been confirmed as Liverpool's new reserve team coach, congratulations, you must be delighted...

It's a great honour for me to be the reserve team manager. The club have shown they have great confidence in my ability and I am happy. It is a job that means my name will sit forever alongside the likes of Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Roy Evans, Phil Thompson and Sammy Lee. They are big names in Liverpool's history and it is also an important role because it is the final step in the Academy. The players need to be ready if they are to make the move into the first-team set-up and I am going to fight for that.

The fans have given the news a big thumbs up, how important is that to you personally?

I always say the same about the fans. Without them Liverpool wouldn't be the club it is. The fans are everything to me and they are very special, backing everyone at the club in good and bad moments. If they have received this news as positive then that is massive for me. I am thankful that they respect me as a person, my ability in my job and especially for the way they have come to Kirkby to watch the U18 games. I will work hard to make them come to more games in the future.

You'll be working even more closely with Frank McParland now - just how important has he been in the Academy's improvement over the past two years?

Frank McParland is my director and we are constantly talking about players, the squad and different situations that arise throughout the season. He is a great support to me and I am certain it will be the same again next season.

Have you spoken to Kenny Dalglish about your new role and do you expect to have more input from him now?

I cannot complain about the input of Kenny. One of the big things about him is that he hasn't changed since he became first-team manager. He was at the Academy 18 months before he took charge and he still comes to see us regularly now. It's impossible for him to be here every day like he was when he was based here but he still comes here every week. His input on matters is continual and I go to Melwood more regularly than I used to. We talk about all kinds of things, even the first-team. He sometimes asks my opinion and I will comment. I have to be very thankful to him because without his support it would have been very difficult for me to get the job as reserve team boss. I am very pleased to be working with him and I will make sure I work even harder to help him so that the players can make this last step and be ready for the first team.

You've coached throughout most age groups at youth team level. Do you feel that gives you the perfect grounding to take on your new role?

I have always believed I should coach all of the age groups and go step by step. This has been important as it has helped me to get a big knowledge about the whole process of developing players. At Barcelona I started out with the under eights and moved through all of the age groups. I think I am a lot more ready to make a step forward because of this knowledge and have a very clear idea in my mind about what to do to push the players through to the first-team - or at least get a chance to show what they can do.

Former Reds player Mike Marsh takes over from you as U18 coach - how impressed have you been by him and will you be passing on any advice to him?

He has done a great job with the U16s. Everyone can see he deserves to go through to the U18s. He also has experience playing professionally. I do not need to give him any advice. We talk regularly and I think it is a good move to move him up. He has a great attitude during the training sessions. He has knowledge, experience and I think he will do well.

You had great success at U18 level. Do you expect to take a large part of that group of players up to the reserves with you?

We will have to talk about this. Obviously some players that were U18s are now going to be U19s. We have to discuss whether we will make new signings and who will remain that was already in the reserves' squad. Someone who was U17 could also come through to it. I have only just returned from a tour of the Caribbean and it has only just been confirmed that I am the reserve team manager, so we will talk about all of this in the near future.

This season has only just finished but it sounds like you have already begun making your plans for pre-season?

Two days ago the news broke. Obviously I had a clue of what was happening before that so I made some plans in my head. Now I am just trying to put that into practice. For example I had Birmingham City and Norwich City in mind to come and play friendly matches with their reserves at the Academy. They are two Academies that are quite good and had strong U18s this season which means they will be good reserves next season. I called them yesterday and have arranged these matches but still need to make some calls and arrange what else I have had in mind.

Just finally, we can't let you go without asking you about the U18s' end of season tour to the Caribbean - how pleased were you with the overall trip?

We had a great time. You can see by the colour in my face! My colour is usually brown because I am Spanish but not like this! For a lot of the lads it was their first time in the Caribbean. They loved it. We also had a good game against St Vincent U20s. We played well in the second half and won the game 4-1. We had a great time. There were lots of visits, snorkelling with turtles etc. It was a nice trip and great to help bring the lads even more together.