Exclusive by Phil McNulty Chief football writer

Houllier admires Roeder Roeder 'stable' in hospital

Gerard Houllier - who was out of football for six months after emergency heart surgery - says his thoughts are with West Ham boss Glenn Roeder after his health scare.

Roeder is undergoing tests in a London hospital after collapsing with chest pains following relegation-threatened West Ham's 1-0 win against Middlesbrough.

Liverpool boss Houllier underwent an eleven-hour life-saving heart operation after being taken ill during a game against Leeds United at Anfield in September 2001.

And he explained why managers subject themselves to the high-pressure stresses and strains of life in the Premiership.

He told this website: "People might laugh when we say this, but football is our life. It is what drives us. This is why we do it.

"It is because football is our life that we push it to the limit.

"And while we may look calm and composed on the outside, who knows what is going on inside the body?"

Houllier added: "Glenn is a very dignified man and I hope he makes a very quick recovery.

People might laugh when we say this, but football is our life - it is what drives us Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier

"I like Glenn as a man and as a manager. He has always remained dignified and decent, despite the pressures of a very difficult season.

"He is a manager who has always supported his players, which I like, and the players can help Glenn now by winning matches. This will help him feel a lot better.

"I have had the opportunity to speak to Glenn on the phone during the season and I send him my very best wishes and hope he is well again soon."

Houllier was one of the first managers to come to Roeder's defence and offer advice when the West Ham boss was under-fire earlier in the season.

He said after the win at West Ham in February: "I have a lot of sympathy for Glenn because he came up against a very strong Liverpool side.

"I know what it means to go through a difficult run because I had something similar happen to me two months ago.

"I shall go and talk to Glenn because he is always very dignified in the way he conducts himself. I shall tell him that he has the ingredients to keep West Ham up."