Steve McManaman has claimed that Jordan Henderson will be viewed as one of the true legends of Liverpool Football Club if his side win the Champions League on Saturday.
The retired Reds player revealed that people moan about Henderson, who earns £100,000-a-week according to Total Sportek, but that the central midfielder had driven his side forward this season.
McManaman shared that he thought Saturday’s game against Real Madrid would go in the Reds’ favour and that Henderson would have the rare honour of lifting the prestigious trophy for Jurgen Klopp’s side as captain.
“He has had his detractors down the years and people moan about Henderson not being good enough to play for Liverpool or England, but he has driven this side and lifted this side through hard work and determination to a Champions League final and has done so well,” the former Reds winger told Yahoo Sports UK.
“The headlines around this Liverpool team may have been dominated by Mo Salah this season, but no team reaches the Champions League final with one man. They needed Sadio Mane, they needed James Milner and the certainly needed Jordan Henderson as well.
“Now he has this moment to create a moment of history that will ensure he will forever be viewed as one of the true legends of Liverpool Football Club, the images of Liverpool captains that have held that European Cup high into the sky are icons of this great club and Jordan has a chance to join them.
“It doesn’t get much bigger than this for the Liverpool players and especially for Henderson, who will have the honour of lifting the trophy if the result goes the way I think it will.”
OPINION
McManaman openly praises Henderson in his brief remarks about him for Yahoo and clearly rates the midfielder’s ability. The former Reds winger practically gushes about the 28-year-old’s importance to Klopp’s side and it’s about time someone praised the midfielder. While not all of his 40 appearances this season deserve plaudits, a lot of the time his superb displays fly under the radar. Henderson does an important job for his side, it’s not just the most glamorous of duties. However it doesn’t mean that midfielder deserves the ridicule and lack of appreciation he often finds himself receiving, so it’s nice for him to hear such comments especially as McManaman is so colourful with his praise. Although going on to refer to him being a true legend if he lifts the trophy, while logical when you read his explanation, it’s a little bit crazy to think about. While the midfielder will join an elusive list of captains to lift the Champions League trophy for the Reds, if his side win on Saturday, maybe it’s not worth calling him a legend just yet.
