Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and claimed that the midfielder had developed superbly in recent seasons.
The former Reds manager during an interview with The Telegraph shared that the 6ft 1in central midfielder (Transfermarkt) was always going to be in a difficult scenario as it was always going to be hard for the player who succeeded Steven Gerrard as captain of the club.
Rodgers, who is the current manager of Celtic, raved not only about Henderson’s ability on the pitch but the professional attitude he showcases off it when evaluating the player’s talent.
“He is really selfless as a player and a guy, always wanting to help those around him. He builds respect around himself,” Rodgers told the national newspaper.
“He always wanted to improve. He would do extra on the training field, working on set-pieces, practising the whip he could get on the ball where – as you can see now – he delivers it really well.
“Off the field he is super professional. I never saw him have a drink, or if I did he was never drinking much.
“It was always going to be difficult for the guy who took the Liverpool armband from Stevie. It was always going to take time. Jordan is his own character. He has really developed superbly as a captain and player.”
OPINION
Henderson is currently gaining the plaudits that he so often doesn’t receive and his former boss is the latest to gush about the 28-year-old’s talents. Rodgers’ praise is more than justified and it seems more and more people are becoming aware of Henderson’s ability as he is currently showcasing all his skills on the global stage with England at the World Cup. The current Reds captain is a main component of Gareth Southgate’s England team as they head into the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia and he will no doubt continue to have the spotlight forced upon him during that game. Henderson had a fantastic 2017/18 season for the Reds as he featured in 41 games for them across all competitions, chipping in one goal and two assists in the process. The 28-year-old’s stats may not be mouthwatering but the constant running and dirty work he does for his nation and his domestic team is vital to both his teams achieving success.
