Jordan Henderson unexpectedly left Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp has admitted that this was because he was unable to give him regular playing time.
The club captain left Liverpool this summer after a 12-year run, signing a £12 million deal to join Reds legend Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League team Al Ettifaq. Henderson later said in an interview with The Athletic that his decision to leave was motivated by a sense of unwelcomeness, saying of the manager and owners: “If one of those people said to me, “Now we want you to stay,” then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
When speaking to reporters on Friday, Klopp appeared to contradict that assertion somewhat by stating that he had been eager to stay.
In a follow-up interview with The Athletic, Henderson said that his decision to leave was motivated by a sense of unwelcomeness. He said of the manager and owners: “If one of those people said to me, “Now we want you to stay,” then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
When speaking to reporters on Friday, Klopp appeared to contradict that assertion somewhat by stating that he had wanted the midfielder to stay on Merseyside.
But the German believed that Henderson’s search for a fresh challenge was ultimately driven by his refusal to provide any guarantees about his role after a midfield overhaul.
“I cannot tell a player before the season that they will play 50 games this year with certainty because I don’t know that; it all depends on performance,” the coach said. Furthermore, Hendo may have had as many as 50 games if he had performed.
But in our particular connection, I felt it was crucial that we discuss everything, even what would happen if…
I had to discuss this with him because he served as my captain for seven and a half years because I didn’t want us to need to fight when we awoke one morning and I told him he wasn’t going to start.
“Obviously, Hendo took that to mean, ‘Okay, he doesn’t want me here. I fully comprehend it, but we made that clear.
There isn’t even the slightest bit of animosity. He leads the most successful squad this club has ever fielded during the Premier League era, and with good reason—he’s a terrific player.I send him my best wishes and, when he arrives here, in my opinion, he receives a sincere farewell. From that point on, there is nothing to erroneously interpret.