Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has credited Rafa Benitez for his success at Liverpool:
“He brought me to Liverpool and helped me to develop as a player. When I first came to the club the expectation was really high. I’m Brazilian but not everyone is a really skilful player like Romario or Ronaldinho. At the time I wasn’t ready to play in the Premier League. My body wasn’t ready. That’s why Rafa is one of the most important people for me. He gave me games and that’s the only way you improve. It’s hard when you are getting criticised but I wouldn’t change anything about my career at Liverpool. I’ve got no problem with the people who didn’t like me before. I knew I had to improve to make the fans change their opinion of me. There will be more difficult times but I’ll handle them.”
The Brazilian midfielder won the club’s player of the season award for this campaign.
This week it is LFC WAG Michela Quattrociocche!
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Lucas is a player who deserves respect for working hard and improving. I still don’t rate him in the same class as Didi Hamann or Mascherano but he’s earned his place as a regular squad player.
Alan give the boy a break, he’s just been crowned Player of the Season but you still find it in you to slag him off. When did Mascherano or Didi Hamann ever win that award for LFC? Mascherano is brilliant at breaking up play and that’s all he offers, Didi was pretty much the same but we loved him coz he scored some crackers and was an adopted scouser. Lucas, on the other hand, breaks up play very well now, can pass the ball in all directions and is getting forward a hell of a lot more than in previous seasons simply because he’s still growing as a player and i can stake my house on him being a Legend we’ll talk about for some years to come.
Instead of finding reasons to hate the boy and slag him off why don’t you try to look at the positives and hope for the best in future for our beloved club. YNWA Lucas and well done this season son, I can’t wait to see you play next season!
well said!
I would agree with Bheko – Lucas is on his way to becoming a far superior player to both Didi Hamann and Mascherano. Let the trophies roll in for Liverpool and Lucas will be on the top of the world.
Yep, spot on. Always had faith in the lad – mainly because Rafa did, and he won Brazilian player of the year when he was literally a kid. He will be a Reds legend in years to come, no doubt about it!
I was one of the ones who didn’t think he was good enough. but after last season, its humble pie time. has the ability to be a legend.
I always thought him and Kuyt were more than capable of leading our team in terms of there performance…
And now they are loved by most and credit to Rafa fir sticking with what most couldn’t see..
2 of the most determined players in whole league!
LUCAS LEIVA…..YNWA
The Lucas detracters are really quite amusing. They seem to think that thier knowledge of Lucas is better than the likes of Rafa, Kenny, Steve Clarke, Carra, Stevie G, Sammy Lee, Mano Menezes and MOST LFC fans, who all rate him as a top player with the potential to continue to improve.
PS. It is only my humble opinion but I think that the detracters might do better if they confined themselves to playing Championship Manager.
Lucas, always thought u were great mate. Now you have the award to prove it to the doubters. When you came out and said in an interview that you were willing to sweat blood for the team – that should have been all that was needed. But still you had to come out and prove to some that you belong in the team. Rafa saw it in you and most of us did too – you’re top quality! Groomed to be a better version of Mascherano, more complete and with a desire and drive to see you become a legend of the club. My hat goes off to you mate. YNWA
Well said Matt….YNWA
I always hated Lucas. Love him now. He improved alot this season!
I think what people have got to remember about Lucas is that he has plenty of “balls” – the stuff you need to be a successful Liverpool player. Hands up!! How many people could go on the hallowed turf at Anfield week in and week out and take the abuse Lucas has suffered when his form was not “brilliant” – (even though Opta stats prove he has never been bad!)? – the answer is virtually NO-ONE!!! It takes a SPECIAL player to keep his head down and work hard for the team when he is being horribly abused! Lucas has had some awful stick, most of it unjustified and now he is our player of the season!! GOOD LUCK LAD!! I hope you go on to make as many appearances as Carragher!!! I really do, because he has definitely got the stuff that makes Liverpool players special – guts in abundance!!
I have said time and again on here that the lad would come good given the chance. (Remember how Jamie carragher and Ray Houghton used to come in for stick? They didn’t turn out “too bad” either)
Unbelievable how some people still give him stick… don’t know why they bother coming to Anfield maybe they would be happier if they phuqued off over to the other side of Stanley park, it would make me happy if they would