Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has publicly called for a sense of perspective, a week after Liverpool's young attacking duo Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe made the newspapers for their off-the-field controversy. Sterling made the front and back pages of the newspapers this week after footage appeared of him reportedly inhaling nitrous oxide, as he made headlines for scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Monday.
However, he was back in the paper headlines on Wednesday alongside Ibe with a shisha pipe, in pictures which were reportedly taken back in September. Rodgers confirmed he has talked with the pair as to their off-field behaviour, considering they are role models in the game.
He said: "I spoke to both players and they are fully aware of what has happened - and then we talked about football. I think both young players are aware of their responsibilities. All you can do is continually educate them - it is [about] perspective as well. If you look at Raheem he didn't do anything illegal. It was something he will look back on in years to come and it probably wasn't the wisest thing to do. But for me it is all about the welfare of the two young players; making them aware of the health issues which come with that and also about the professionalism and what they are representing. They will make mistakes, whether it is those two or other young players."
Rodgers continued: "In the main young footballers are good people, they do a lot of things which go un-noticed. Sometimes they get caught out but that is just youth and learning. We talk of players as being role models but I think the best role models in your life are parents and guardians - but we are not perfect either, we make mistakes. We learn and if we have to do that when we are older in life then certainly young players will do that and they need support in that."
Sterling is set to start the Reds' FA Cup semi-final fixture against Aston Villa tomorrow at Wembley, with Ibe ineligble due to being cup-tied, having played in the competition whilst on-loan at Derby County earlier on in the season.