Brendan Rodgers says that he uses his experience at Reading to make him a better manager

The current Swansea City manager was speaking as he put the final touches to his preparations for his side's visit to the Madejski Stadium this weekend.

Rodgers spent just 21 games in charge at Reading last season before being dismissed and whilst there was no bitter comments from the manager it was clear that the sacking hurt when he had so much that needed to be changed.

Speaking to the Evening Post, Rodgers said "I was looking to change the whole footballing philosophy of the club when I went back to Reading

"That is something which takes time, but unfortunately I only got 21 (league) games.

"Thankfully, at Swansea, my football philosophy and the club's go hand in glove.

"Over time I think we could have had that at Reading, but the beliefs of the people upstairs probably didn't match mine.

"Maybe a bit naively, I thought that because the club knew me and because I signed a three-year deal, I would get time.

"I had their word that the first year was a transitional year and that we would then build.

"Players had to be moved on for financial reasons in the first year and the second year, so I was really looking at the third year to start doing something.

"But we never got that far because our results were a wee bit up and down.

"I use what happened as a motivation now, and it's also important to learn from it.

"I realised after Reading that whatever philosophy you have, you need to get results.

"It's a club I will always have a big affinity with — they looked after me as a player and then they gave me a chance as a coach," he added.

"I knew the passion of the supporters, and my regret is that I didn't do well for them.

"I thought I would have done in time, but looking back, it was the right club at the wrong time for me.

"I didn't think 21 games was long and of course I think they should have been more patient. But there was a lot of pressure upstairs at that time, in relation not so much to the football as other aspects of the club.

"I had no problem with the chairman, but maybe there were things surrounding him that weren't quite right.

"I wanted to start a new era at Reading after Steve Coppell's departure. I wanted to be there for a number of years and they wanted a different philosophy, but my beliefs obviously didn't match up to what they wanted at the beginning.

"I didn't see it at the time, but what happened at Reading has made me a better manager," he said.

"It was my first disappointment since I started coaching aged 20 and there's no doubt it hit me hard.

"But it gave me the chance to reflect and I feel stronger now. I feel as though that experience has set me up for the rest of my career."

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