Brendan Rodgers’ three envelopes trick didn’t exactly have the motivational impact he might have hoped
Rodgers used the technique, previously utilised to great effect by Sir Alex Ferguson, in an attempt to inspire his new players after he arrived at Liverpool in 2012.
As shown in the documentary, Being Liverpool, Rodgers’ tenure at Anfield began with him showing three envelopes to his squad and explaining how he had written down the names of three players he predicted would let Liverpool down that season and placed the names inside the envelopes.
Glen Johnson, who was playing right-back for the Reds at the time, opened up on Rodgers’ cringe moments at Anfield and explained how the envelope stunt simply didn’t land.
“I remember I was looking around like ‘is he f*****g serious?” Johnson said on the Kick Off.
“And you could bet your bottom dollar all those envelopes were empty.
“After that it was a ‘trying to get a reaction’ sort-of speech.
“And then over the course of the season hoping that everyone’s forgotten about that meeting and no one brings it up.”
Johnson, who played under Rodgers for three years with the Reds, suggested that the Northern Irishman has a tendency to try too hard to emulate Jose Mourinho.
“It sort of stems from when he was understudy to Mourinho at Chelsea,” Johnson continued.
“He’s got so many mannerisms from him which almost seems like sometimes he’s trying to be Mourinho.
“You know when someone’s trying too hard? It doesn’t carry the same punch.”
