http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/lucas-i-had-no-option-but-to-change Lucas Leiva has spoken frankly about his struggle to cut it in the Premier League - admitting that he had 'no option' but to change his game in order to become a Liverpool regular. In a new show that will air on LFC TV at 9pm GMT on Thursday night, the Brazilian talks openly with midfield legend Jan Molby about his difficult start to life in England. Like Molby, Lucas recovered and went on to become a Kop favourite, but having arrived from Gremio in 2007 as an attacking midfielder, the 26-year-old had to sacrifice his offensive qualities to establish himself in the team. He told Molby: "I had to change the way I played, used to play. I just thought I had no option. "The way the Premier League is with the pace of the game and everything, I was not able to do that [be a box to box midfielder]. "I couldn't do it so I just felt, 'Listen, you have to understand that the league is different. If you want to be successful you have to change.' "A holding position was a position that I felt more comfortable in. "Rafa just played me there for a few games and then I started to adapt and play some good games. "I got better as well, I went to the gym, went on the weights." Lucas's performance in a deeper role became so consistently good that in 2010-11 he won 40 per cent of a fans' poll to be named the club's official Player of the Season. He admits that one of the turning points in his Anfield career was the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid in 2009. "I think my third season," he explained. "It was when Xabi left. It was more pressure but I had the chance to play more games. "In the first two seasons I was playing but not very often and I used to play maybe 15, 20 games, but coming on as a substitute from the bench is not the same. "So, the third season when Alonso left I knew the pressure was so high but I had the chance. So I played that season maybe 60 games. Or 55. It was a lot. "Of course Aquilani came to replace him and they didn't even remember me at that time, but Aquilani was injured so I just played, played and played. I think I did a good season. "When I finished the season I felt really well and strong and then Rafa left the club, so it was an odd situation for me to think about. "But maybe the last two seasons it's been a comfortable situation at the club."
Sahin: "I talked to him and asked why I was playing there, BR could not answer, still no regrets, to play at Anfield is a wonderful thing." Nuri Sahin: "I have left Brendan Rodgers, thank God." Sahin: "It failed at Liverpool. Brendan Rodgers wanted me playing at ten. But I do not play behind the strikers." I will try to find the article as these were snippets from twiter. Lucas is a perfect perfect professional on how you change and keep pushing on.
have seen that yes, disgusting attitude by Sahin to be honest, how many players for clubs have moved positions as its in the clubs best interest, obviously he didn't feel this way about Liverpool so **** him. there was rumuors going around that he wanted to move to Germany any way, we was just a stop gap, so why keep playing someone who doesn't want to be here. what does barbs mean any way? i don't use twitter so i know its not that.
True, should have taken advantage when Joe's form dropped but think maybe that move to Madrid got to his mentality on the game.
Gerrard and Lucas are too good a partnership for us to break it up in an attempt to accommodate someone else. Plus, they are both our players whereas Sahin wasn't. IMO, if you have a 50:50 choice between two players, one is contracted to the club and the other is on loan, you chose the former every time. Its more beneficial to the club in the club term
Many of the current Liverpool team had to adopt and change, this season alone. Lucas had to do it over the course of his Liverpool career. Gerarrd has done it for both Liverpool and England. If these players can shut their mouths and get on with it, letting their quality show through and Sahin thinks he's above it, then good riddance.
THink Lucas----Sahin ---Gerrard---- Would have been awesome. Always going to be tough with JA coming in but I thought that should have been the midfield trio as much as possible.
THink Lucas----Sahin ---Gerrard---- Would have been awesome. Always going to be tough with JA coming in but I thought that should have been the midfield trio as much as possible.
That's what a lot of us where saying earlier in the season but now Gerrard and Lucas look great so I wouldn't split or move them. Henderson as done well in the AM spot but we no longer play with a central three either so it would have been even less likely for Sahin to play, he was behind Henderson and Allen too. Even Shelvey at one point #yetanotherdoublepost
He just can't, he just can't, he just can't stop double ****ing posting! No clue why it does it every time on every device I have.
Gerrard is better suited for the deep playmaker role nowadays, so Sahin was brought in to be a more creative, forward lying player. Not our fault he's a poor professional who'll only try if he's playing in his correct position. He's worse than Lucas and worse than Gerrard. Adapt to play further forward or **** off and play elsewhere. He took the latter option.
