Kenny Dalglish is delighted to have helped Liverpool back onto the trophy trail, but admits the club must continue to look 'onwards and upwards'.
Liverpool calls on club to build on Carling Cup triumph
Kenny Dalglish is delighted to have helped Liverpool back onto the trophy trail, but admits the club must continue to look 'onwards and upwards'.
The Reds ended their six-year wait for major silverware on Sunday when they edged their way to a penalty shoot-out victory over Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final.
Everyone connected with the club has taken the time to bask in the glory of that success, but they appreciate it must be viewed as a stepping stone to further triumphs.
Dalglish certainly sees things that way, with the Scot already turning his attention to a potentially crucial Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday - with just seven points, and a game in hand, separating Liverpool from the fourth-placed Gunners.
"We should enjoy what we've done but know that we've got to look forward," he said.
Realistic
"Everybody loved it (the victory at Wembley) but when you like something and you've enjoyed the taste it makes you that little bit more anxious to get back there.
"But we've got a long way to go this season. I'm not trying to put a dampener on anything from Sunday but we've got to be realistic.
"I'm sure we'll move onwards and upwards but we won't do that if we think we've arrived anywhere."
While keen to focus on the job in hand, Dalglish has taken the time to praise the efforts of his players and the club's American owners for the part they played in Sunday's cup victory.
On the new recruits drafted into his squad since he returned to the Anfield hot-seat, Dalglish told the club's
official website: "It's difficult to come into a club like this and have a good transition.
Credit
"To get some silverware in their first year, it's great credit to every single one of them, not just the new boys. They've accepted each other and they are a very close-knit bunch of players.
"The disappointing thing is that some of them had to be left out [of the final], but even the ones who were left out were there and felt part of it and really enjoyed the celebrations after it."
On owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and the Fenway Sports Group, Dalglish added: "They came into the club at a difficult time and I'm not sure what targets they set other than to take us forward.
"I don't know if it's going forward quicker than they imagined but they were delighted and we were delighted for them, because they've done a great deal for this football club in the short time they've been in.
"We've had a few disappointments along the way, and I'm sure there'll be a few more to come, but being in the dressing room on Sunday after the game made it worthwhile for everybody."
