Brendan Rodgers says he is returning to Reading on Saturday a better manager despite his ill-fated six month tenure with the Royals.The Northern Irishman brings his new charges Swansea City to the Madejski Stadium looking for only their second league win on the road.
"I was obviously disappointed at the time," said Rodgers.
"I felt that I could take the club forward and obviously after 21 games it was deemed not to be the case."
Rodgers took charge of Reading before the start of last season, but managed just five league wins with Reading, winning just once at home.
The results have left the Berkshire side lying just one place clear of the relegation zone in the Championship, and the board ran out of patience.
"There are many reasons for that I don't need to go into but the experience has made me a better manager," added Rodgers.
"You don't see that at the time, but a little reflective time out and hopefully you learn from the mistakes."
Rodgers had six months out of the game following his Reading departure, before succeeding Paulo Sousa in the Liberty Stadium hot seat in July.
He has enjoyed a much happier start than his time at Reading as the Swans have already won five out of their first 10 games and are eighth in the Championship table with 16 points.
"I was trying to bring in a different philosophy to Reading," explained Rodgers.
Rodgers reflects on time at Reading
"Obviously my way of working was going to need time which I felt I was going to get but obviously I didn't. I only had six months.
"There was big pressure on the club and the board to get results and I felt actually when I'd left, the games leading up to that, we actually then started to turn the corner.
"It was always going to take that little bit of time, but unfortunately for me I didn't get that, and that's something that's not my decision.
"I'm just grateful that I had the time out - six months - and then I have come into a club (Swansea) where the football belief of the club fits hand in glove with my own.
"That philosophy of playing attacking football is obviously matched here by the people and the supporters of the club. So obviously I am very grateful for that."
But Rodgers, who has a 21-year association with Reading first as a player, then academy coach and manager - with coaching roles under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in between - says he has no grudges against his former club.
"Reading is a club, that even though the experience there wasn't as how I would want, I still have a big heart for the club," added the 37-year-old.
"I still have my house there even though I have moved here to Swansea. I will never forget the opportunity that they gave me.
"Obviously it didn't work out the way I wanted to be. Two things I won't forget: One, they gave me an opportunity, and the second thing was it didn't go so well but I still had some great support.
"So I think they see me as one of their own and it just didn't work out, and I'll always be grateful for that.
"I felt it was the right club, and looking back it was just the wrong time."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport