Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has paid a glowing and emotional tribute to the captain, Jordan Henderson, saying he deserves the success he is enjoying.
The midfielder’s last game for the Reds will be against Newcastle United this weekend before departing the club upon the expiry of his contract.
Lallana will be seeking a new challenge elsewhere after 178 appearances and 22 goals for the club.
Henderson recently won the Football Writers’ Association Award of the Year beating top contestants to it.
The former Southampton man who paid the glowing tribute in an exclusive interview on Liverpool TV has a close friendship with the 30-year-old. They have played beside each other at Liverpool since joining from Southampton in 2014.
Henderson, who had joined Liverpool previously before Lallana had struggled for fitness and consistency in his early seasons at Anfield. It was then speculated that the club were considering selling him.
Since succeeding Steven Gerrard as captain in 2015, he had been playing a central role in the club’s success under Jurgen Klopp in recent years. The skipper in the last 12 months has lifted the Champions League, Super Cup, World Club Cup, and now the Premier League.
Lallana speaks about the ups and down moments of Henderson
Lallana also endured his ups and downs at Anfield, with injuries playing a tole on him as well.
Speaking on Henderson’s leadership quality, the 30-year-old said he seriously took his responsibility as captain and the hard work is behind his eventual success.
“Having been with Jordan throughout the whole journey I’ve been lucky enough to be alongside him when he had his dark moments and a couple of injuries that he’s had.
“He’s also been alongside me in my dark moments, injuries. We always come back to injuries. It’s not just defeats that are dark moments, it’s injuries as well.
“There was one game when we lost, well we drew 3-3 away to Sevilla. I say we lost because it felt like a defeat. I just remember he had his hood up and he kind of took the brunt of that result, took full responsibility. We were 3-0 up at half-time and it finished 3-3, and just hearing him say as captain, ‘That can’t happen, I’ve got to be responsible and I’m responsible for that being a Liverpool captain.’
“Just to hear how honest he was, I was thinking ‘Are you crazy to be taking that responsibility? It’s the team’s responsibility and we’ve not even lost the game.’
“But, that just epitomises his selflessness and how much responsibility he takes for this football club in the bad moments. That’s why he deserves this more than anyone else. He deserves to be captain of Liverpool holding the four trophies in one season more than anyone else and no-one can take that away from him, ever.”
He further stated that the skipper apart from being his close pal makes him proud and privileged.
” Yes, it’s nice that our families are close and my kids are the same age as his kids, but more than anything him being my captain and being next to him on Wednesday when he lifted that Premier League trophy, there is nothing that makes me happier really.”
Lallana gets farewell gift
As part of the tradition of the club, Lallan was presented a farewell gift t the club’s training ground on Friday.
More than teammates.
— Liverpool FC (Premier League Champions 🏆) (@LFC) July 24, 2020
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