steven gerrard

Jordan Henderson did not expect to leave Liverpool so soon (Photo: Getty Images)

– In the pre-season, it seemed that he will start the new season as a member of Liverpool…
“That was my plan,” Jordan Henderson, who signed a contract with Saudi Al-Ittifak from Liverpool for 14 million euros at the end of July, answered The Athletic’s journalists. – I spoke with Jürgen Klopp at the end of the previous season, he told me what his plans are for the fall, what type of players can strengthen the squad in the summer. During my vacation, I trained intensively in addition to resting in order to return to the team in the best condition.

– He was Liverpool’s team captain, lifting the Premier League and Champions League trophies, among other things. Why did you feel the need to leave?
– I have an excellent relationship with Jürgen Klopp, and without revealing what we talked about, he made it clear that in the 2023-2024 season I will probably get fewer opportunities to play than before. I also knew that the club was also interested in my position. If I stayed and sat on the bench, it would have been very difficult for me. I belonged to the club for twelve years, sometimes I was able to wear the team captain’s armband with the English national team, and next year they are organizing the European Championship, which I definitely want to be there. When Al-Ittifak made an offer and Liverpool didn’t shy away from selling me, I knew it was time for a change. I’ve always been very attached to Liverpool, I didn’t expect to have to leave so soon. I had a hard time accepting it.

– He says that being on the bench in Liverpool would have endangered his national team, but according to many, the same danger exists as a starter in the Saudi league. Did Gareth Southgate speak to FA captain ahead of his transfer?
“I talked to him and he accepted my plans positively.” I didn’t want to blackmail him into guaranteeing my selection, he can’t do that. In the end, I convinced myself that I can maintain my fitness and motivation here as well, and that I can keep myself in good shape for the national team’s strength tests.

Photo: Getty Images

“Why did you accept the Saudi offer?” Wasn’t it searched elsewhere?
“I’m nearing the end of my career and I want to play a lot and enjoy it.” I don’t want to wear the bench and come on for ten minutes, because that would really jeopardize my participation in the national team.

– But did you listen to other offers as well, or could only Al-Ittifak be considered?
– Those who were watching knew that my summer departure from Liverpool was in the cards. I would like to say that every club wanted me, but that would not be true. My children were born in Liverpool, I love the club, I love the fans and it wouldn’t have been easy to play against them – I wouldn’t have felt comfortable.

– Did you think that if you stay in Europe, you want to play at the top level?
“I wanted an exciting challenge.” Something that I can add value to, something that is new to me as well. However, teaming up with Al-Ittifak coach Steven Gerrard in a different league, in a completely different culture, seemed like an exciting challenge indeed. With our experience, we can help the club in several areas and feel valuable. It feels good when they want you and Stevie really wanted me and the club really wanted us as a pair that can build something for years to come. I would add, in a league that could become one of the best in the world.

“Does this best extend to finances?” You say it’s a new challenge with Gerrard, it’s all excitement. At the same time, there are strong voices according to which he simply chose the money.
“This is the most difficult part of the transfer.” All people see is that a club heavily stuffed with money came, and I said yes to him, but nothing could be further from the truth. Throughout my career, I have never been motivated by money. Never! When signing a contract, the financial issue is important, but you have to feel that you are wanted, that you are appreciated, and for me, these questions were raised long before money was discussed.

– Information has come to light that he earns seven hundred thousand pounds a week, four times as much as at Liverpool. This is true?
“I wish it were true… All kidding aside, no, it’s not true.” Of course, I wouldn’t have signed if it wasn’t worth it financially, and I admit that I get a good salary, but it’s far from that amount.

“So you’re saying that money was never mentioned in any of the conversations with Steven Gerrard?”
– Never. Stevie and I talked exclusively about football and the project. In fact, he said that he specifically wants to stay out of the financial part. We only talked about what we can achieve together and what we can do to improve the club and the league.

Liverpool has strengthened the midfield well, the defense can come
After last season, it was clear that Liverpool needed to be rebuilt, but even though the club on the Mersey side is considered wealthy, it is still somewhat at a disadvantage compared to its direct competitors. Nothing proves this better than the fact that in the summer he was practically relegated to the midfield (he left James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arthur Meloa little later Roberto Firmino and Fabinho also) the “reds” signed it quickly Alexis Mac Allistert is Dominik Szoboszlabut for defensive midfielders, Moses Caicedoért and Romeo Laviaert in a hard-fought battle, they simply fell short against Chelsea. You could say, as a forced solution, they were able to get it from one shelf down Endo Vatarut strongly outnumbered by Stuttgart and Bayern Munich Ryan Gravenberchet.
Liverpool’s former striker, John Aldridge, spoke at the opening of a bookmaker in Liverpool on Wednesday, saying that the team’s weak point is not even the midfield. “The situation in the midfield is not so bad, Szoboszlai and Mac
I really like Allister. It’s true that Gravenberch won’t save the defensive midfield position, but the team really needed a classy center half and two top-class central defenders,” says Aldridge, who scored 63 goals in 104 matches for Liverpool in the late eighties.

2023-09-07 09:34:30
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