Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago was a hugely popular figure among the Reds fanbase, and his latest remarks about the city and the club sum up why.
The Spaniard moved to Anfield in 2020, coming in as one of Europe’s best midfielders, and there was real hope that he would take the team to the next level.
Sadly, injuries ultimately defined Thiago’s four-year spell at Liverpool, but there were still majestic performances thrown in, as well as plenty of heart shown.
Speaking on ‘Beyond the persona’ [via This Is Anfield], the 35-year-old has brilliantly outlined why the Reds are different to anyone else he played for in his career:
“It’s a worker city and we mention a lot to everybody that asks me about Liverpool, why the crowd or the fans are with the team. I say that it’s because it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about giving your all while you’re on the pitch. Having this sense of team as well, that was the main thing.
“It’s the only big team I’ve seen that doesn’t act cocky like a big team, it acts like ‘OK, we have to [earn] it’, everything’. [Those are] the values they run over there. At Barcelona [in 2012/13], we won all the home games, reached 100 points and beat Madrid for the first time winning the league against them here.
“So that day was insane, in terms of numbers, it was insane. There is a parade the next day, people are on the streets, 700,000 people, and it was great. But what I experienced in Liverpool the day after losing the Champions League final against Madrid, that was unmatchable.”
Liverpool were robbed of a true Reds great
When Liverpool signed Thiago, there was always a risk that fitness issues would hold him back, having missed plenty of football earlier in his career.
That proved to be the case, but it was still great to be able to watch such a special footballer in a Liverpool shirt, with Gary Neville describing him as “world-class” when he joined the Reds.
There is a reason why Thiago wasn’t only just loved as a player at Anfield, with the former Barcelona man getting the club and the city from minute one.
