Brendan Rodgers miffed by "incredible" Dunga decision to omit Philippe Coutinho

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 16 August 2015

Brendan Rodgers is struggling to get to grips with Dunga's "incredible" omission of Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho from his latest Brazil squad.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he is struggling to understand Brazil coach Dunga's "incredible" decision to omit Philippe Coutinho from his squad.

The playmaker netted an 86th-minute stunner as the Reds beat Stoke City 1-0 last week to kick off their Premier League campaign on a high.

Consequently, Coutinho, who figured for the Selecao during the Copa America, was expected to be named in Dunga's squad for upcoming friendlies with Costa Rica and USA.

However, the 23-year-old was left out, with Dunga ushering Orlando City ace Kaka back into the international fold, but Rodgers is nonplussed by Coutinho's snub.

"Everything that I'd seen last season and the changes in the squad [indicated] that he was going to be one of the flagship players for the new dawn of Brazilian football," he told reporters.

"A young player who made the team of the season in the most competitive league in the world. How he cannot be in the squad is incredible really. I spoke to him at length on it. Of course he's disappointed, but straight away his focus is on Liverpool. That was his thought.

"He's a really humble boy and he's a really proud man for his country. I'm sure he'll pick up the form here he's shown over the last 18 months and I'm sure it won't be too long before he's back in it."

Coutinho joined the Anfield club from Inter Milan in 2013.