Coutinho thankful for 'unique' support 12th May 2015 - Latest News please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Author: David Lynch Philippe Coutinho has thanked Liverpool fans for taking him to their hearts and says it is a 'unique feeling' to hear his name sang by the Kop. The Brazilian midfielder has been a star performer for the Reds since making the move from Inter Milan during the January transfer window of 2013. He clocked up his 100th appearance for the club during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and is set for many more after agreeing a new long-term contract in February. Coutinho's contributions since his arrival on Merseyside have been lauded in the form of song by the Anfield support. The 22-year-old also has his own silhouetted banner on the Kop containing a tagline reading: 'O Magico' (The Magician). And, speaking in a wide-ranging interview with CNN, the young attacker has revealed his pride at being recognised by the Liverpool faithful. "It is so hard to define what that means to me," he said. "It is a very unique and special feeling. It's incredible when I hear the song, and it is touching that there are people who connect with you. "I had goosebumps the first time I saw the flag with my face on it because I was really not expecting it. It was a cool surprise, and I want to thank the fans for the effort even to write 'O Mágico' [The Magician] in Portuguese. "I could have never imagined, when playing on that concrete pitch [as a child in Brazil], that I would be appreciated at a club like Liverpool and be the footballer I am today. But there is still a lot for me to learn and do." Coutinho cemented his status as a key man during Liverpool's push for the Barclays Premier League title last season. The former Vasco da Gama academy star scored one of the iconic goals of the campaign when he struck late on to hand Brendan Rodgers' side a 3-2 win against eventual champions Manchester City at Anfield. That victory looked to have given the Reds edge in the push for top honours, though they were eventually caught by Manuel Pellegrini's team. The diminutive playmaker has now explained that the manager's motivational technique of reading out letters from the players' mothers before games paid dividends for him on that occasion. "I was so anxious for it to be my turn, for the manager to read the letter from my Mum," he continued. "I waited and waited for it. The manager had spoken to the mothers of every player in the team, he'd been reading a message before every game for months and finally my turn had come. "At first, I didn't know that the manager would be reading a letter from her, then he mentioned her name and I was really overwhelmed," he continues. "It said she loved me, is proud of me, is always with me and missing me. "There was more, but those are just the words I needed to hear. It filled me up. The other players were also really moved because every week, regardless of whose mother it was with the message, we were all inspired and emotional. "We were getting really strong, powerful words and it pushed us so much." Tagged: Coutinho , Philippe Coutinho http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/185082-coutinho-thankful-for-unique-support
he's the only star we will have next year... i say star by virtue of him being elevated in shirt sales with gerrard gone.
Interesting about Rodgers reading messages from family to inspire them etc... Quite unique I guess and for those that live away from their families and maybe don't see them as much (like the young foreign guys) could be quite motivational.
**** me, has Brenton seriously delegated motivational duties to the players' mums now? There was me thinking all the tea lady references were just bad jokes...
Hendersons letter was class............. "Haddaway, man, there's nee way Suarez is signing for the Sunderland, I rang the wee ****er and he's turned us doon. Howay man! We gannin' doon Morrisons to beat the queue."
A young Coutinho and Neymar then ..... please log in to view this image .... and now please log in to view this image
