Former Toon Star: Dalglish Destroyed Our Squad

Former Newcastle star Tino Asprilla has revealed his thoughts on Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, with the striker claiming that the then-Toon man destroyed a once great side.

When Asprilla made the move to St James' Park in 1996, the side were on the brink of beating Manchester United to the title, and could boast big stars the likes of Peter Beardsley, Les Ferdinand and Lee Clark.

But as Dalglish took over the realm at Newcastle, he sold a large host of big names and sent the club from title challengers to mid-table in a matter of seasons.

And Asprilla, who was another player sold by Dalglish, and made the move back to Palma after just two years at Newcastle, believes that the former Liverpool star ruined the side's chances to be great.

"When Kenny Daglish arrived at Newcastle I had heard so many good things about him," he told the Chronicle.

"And I could not wait to play for him. Anyone who achieves so much as a player like he did you would naturally expect him to do well as a manager.

"This was not the case. Within months he had the team playing a style that was alien to most of us and he started to sell some of our star players.

"The stars like Ginola, Ferdinand and Beardsley were moved on. It was a team that could have gone on to win the league, having come so close in 1996.

"But instead we were broken up and the dream faded. I was sad to see Dalglish destroy the team."

Asprilla found opportunities for the Newcastle side to be limited, and the now-42 year old says when he left it was a particularly sad occasion.

"My departure was a sad day for me and I wish things could have been different," he explained.

"I have no malice towards Kenny, but with hindsight I think the club and the fans realise now that he was not the right man for the job."

Since taking over Liverpool at the beginning of last year, Dalglish has had mixed results at the club where he was deemed a legend in his playing days.

The Glaswegian has so far spent over £100 million bringing in new talent, and while the Carling Cup is now firmly in Liverpool's trophy cabinet, they are looking at yet another season without Champions League qualification.

And after suffering their sixth loss in nine games to Wigan at the weekend, Dalglish is under increased pressure to show that his spending at Liverpool will find fruit before the season ends.