Brazil international Lucas Leiva has had it tough in the last few years at Liverpool FC no doubt.
He was the regular guy to point to when thing go bad in the team. He joined from his county where he played for Gremio. He has been with the club for a decade now – he is the longest serving player in the current set-up.
Leiva has played through different managers – Rafa Benitez, Roy Hogson, Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers and now Jurgen Klopp.
“The fans are full of passion and you have to understand. You don’t have to agree and sometime I don’t agree, and I have no problem to say that. One thing I’ve learnt, when things don’t go your way, you have to agree and sometimes I don’t agree, and I have no problem to say that,” he said.
“One thing I’ve learnt, when things don’t go your way, you have a bad game or the team are on a bad run, it will always be two or three players people will blame, that’s the nature of human beings,” Leiva added.
The player has been vocal in his response when criticised particularly in recent years. The club has not had much success – though they have been close two to three times – except their League Cup victory in 2012.
The career of the 30-year old may be ending but he says he is comfortable with the recent history of the club and that he feels he is appreciated.
“I do feel appreciated, of course. The word I always wanted to have from my time at Liverpool is respect. I think I’ve got that. I think people respect me, they have different opinions, I have no problem with that, but they respect me,” he revealed.
His passion and loyalty to the Merseyside cannot be overemphasized, but it might be time to say goodbyes.
