Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
- 219,504
- 911,249
- Thread starter
- #1,901
[h=1]Jordan Henderson exclusive: No regrets over quitting Sunderland for Liverpool[/h] Published 22:00 09/03/12 By David Maddock
Sit in the company of Jordan Henderson for even a few minutes, and his affection and gratitude towards Sunderland FC becomes charmingly obvious.
Ask him though, if there are any sneaking regrets about leaving the club he still regards as an extended "family" after a difficult introduction at new club Liverpool, and that polite demeanour turns chilly as he barks out a single emphatic word...
"No".
It is a blunt as that.
No explanation. No qualification.
The midfielder is a respectful and dedicated professional, but he is also determinedly ambitious and won't allow even family ties to get in the way of that.
There are those who would suggest - with just a hint of malice –ahead of the midfielder's first return to the Stadium of Light in Liverpool colours on Saturday afternoon that it is Sunderland who have had rather the better of the £20million transfer that took him to Anfield last summer.
When this is put to Henderson, he shows respect and steel in equal measure.
His eyes narrow and his face sets in response to what is not exactly a kind question.
"People are entitled to that opinion," he says, "and if they're thinking that when I go back then it's up to me to prove them wrong."
The words are delivered with a bite those same critics would say his play has too often been missing since a move that catapulted him onto the list of the five most expensive players in Liverpool history.
Henderson admits he hears the criticism, but feels he doesn't have to justify it.
Instead, he talks of a progression that underpins his ambition, and argues that you can't make that progression without difficult decisions - or difficult times.
"Of course I've heard the criticism - you can't ignore it. And I accept they have a right to make it," he adds.
"When you look at the price-tag, then you're always going to get it. But the only response I can have is to try to keep improving - by playing as much as I can, to keep learning and keep getting better.
"You have setbacks in life – you've got to deal with them and use them to make you mentally stronger.
"It's not exactly been a horrendous season, but yeah, there have been difficult times. I've enjoyed it here, it's a massive club and it is not always as easy as people may think to settle in immediately.
"What do you do? You have to keep playing and improving, and at a club like this, with players of the quality of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez around you, you are going to improve by learning from them."
Just the mere mention of those names offers an insight into the reasons why Henderson left the comfort and warmth of Sunderland to embark on a new adventure at the tender age of 20 - and also why he has absolutely no regrets.
"Don't get me wrong, I loved my time at Sunderland," he says. "I was a fan, I was a kid at the academy and came through the system, and they made me the person I am.
"I loved it, I really did. So many people there helped me to become a footballer, and it felt like I was part of a family, but I knew without doubt it was time to move.
"I'll go back with so much affection, but no regrets.
"I look around at Liverpool and everything about the club says it is massive.
"I'm not saying we're going to win the league tomorrow, but the club is set up to be successful and to win major trophies. That's the aim here, and it's why I came - why I couldn't turn the chance down."
Of course, Henderson already has his first medal in the bag after Liverpool's tense Carling Cup Final last month - which is why he is reluctant to go along with the alarmingly widespread view that his first Anfield season has been something of a disappointment.
There have been difficulties on and off the pitch - most notably with the Suarez affair, which put an intense spotlight onto the club and, by extension, onto the new players in whom manager Kenny Dalglish invested more than £100m and so much faith.
At Wembley though, it was a different kind of spotlight, as the young international got a taste of what the future could hold for a successful Liverpool side.
"It was my first senior honour, and an amazing moment. You go to Wembley with a club like Liverpool and see the response of the fans, and you get an idea of how truly massive it is," explains Henderson.
"It's not always been easy this season, for me and for the team on and off the pitch, but there is a real spirit in the squad. We have come together through all of that, and we can build on that spirit.
"Results haven't always been as good as they should be in the league, and it is easy to make excuses.
"With me, I could say, 'I'm a young player, I've played in different positions', but I don't want to make any excuses.
"It could be better, and that's the bottom line. But there are a lot of positives too. We lost against Arsenal last week, but you saw how well we played, and we can take an awful lot of positives from that.
"It's about progression. That's why I came here, to progress, and I think I can do that."
Again, it is said with a determination which suggests an inner steel that may yet ensure there are no regrets in the life of Jordan Henderson.
*
Jordan Henderson was speaking on behalf of 188BET, official betting partner of Liverpool FC. For a free £25 bet visit 403 Error - Location Forbidden - 188BET
Team news: Cattermole and Sessegnon banned, Agger's still out
Simon Bird's Premier League previews and predictions (Week 28)
Dalglish: Okay. Yes. We DO have a problem scoring enough goals...
(5)
Sit in the company of Jordan Henderson for even a few minutes, and his affection and gratitude towards Sunderland FC becomes charmingly obvious.
Ask him though, if there are any sneaking regrets about leaving the club he still regards as an extended "family" after a difficult introduction at new club Liverpool, and that polite demeanour turns chilly as he barks out a single emphatic word...
"No".
It is a blunt as that.
No explanation. No qualification.
The midfielder is a respectful and dedicated professional, but he is also determinedly ambitious and won't allow even family ties to get in the way of that.
There are those who would suggest - with just a hint of malice –ahead of the midfielder's first return to the Stadium of Light in Liverpool colours on Saturday afternoon that it is Sunderland who have had rather the better of the £20million transfer that took him to Anfield last summer.
When this is put to Henderson, he shows respect and steel in equal measure.
His eyes narrow and his face sets in response to what is not exactly a kind question.
"People are entitled to that opinion," he says, "and if they're thinking that when I go back then it's up to me to prove them wrong."
The words are delivered with a bite those same critics would say his play has too often been missing since a move that catapulted him onto the list of the five most expensive players in Liverpool history.
Henderson admits he hears the criticism, but feels he doesn't have to justify it.
Instead, he talks of a progression that underpins his ambition, and argues that you can't make that progression without difficult decisions - or difficult times.
"Of course I've heard the criticism - you can't ignore it. And I accept they have a right to make it," he adds.
"When you look at the price-tag, then you're always going to get it. But the only response I can have is to try to keep improving - by playing as much as I can, to keep learning and keep getting better.
"You have setbacks in life – you've got to deal with them and use them to make you mentally stronger.
"It's not exactly been a horrendous season, but yeah, there have been difficult times. I've enjoyed it here, it's a massive club and it is not always as easy as people may think to settle in immediately.
"What do you do? You have to keep playing and improving, and at a club like this, with players of the quality of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez around you, you are going to improve by learning from them."
Just the mere mention of those names offers an insight into the reasons why Henderson left the comfort and warmth of Sunderland to embark on a new adventure at the tender age of 20 - and also why he has absolutely no regrets.
"Don't get me wrong, I loved my time at Sunderland," he says. "I was a fan, I was a kid at the academy and came through the system, and they made me the person I am.
"I loved it, I really did. So many people there helped me to become a footballer, and it felt like I was part of a family, but I knew without doubt it was time to move.
"I'll go back with so much affection, but no regrets.
"I look around at Liverpool and everything about the club says it is massive.
"I'm not saying we're going to win the league tomorrow, but the club is set up to be successful and to win major trophies. That's the aim here, and it's why I came - why I couldn't turn the chance down."
Of course, Henderson already has his first medal in the bag after Liverpool's tense Carling Cup Final last month - which is why he is reluctant to go along with the alarmingly widespread view that his first Anfield season has been something of a disappointment.
There have been difficulties on and off the pitch - most notably with the Suarez affair, which put an intense spotlight onto the club and, by extension, onto the new players in whom manager Kenny Dalglish invested more than £100m and so much faith.
At Wembley though, it was a different kind of spotlight, as the young international got a taste of what the future could hold for a successful Liverpool side.
"It was my first senior honour, and an amazing moment. You go to Wembley with a club like Liverpool and see the response of the fans, and you get an idea of how truly massive it is," explains Henderson.
"It's not always been easy this season, for me and for the team on and off the pitch, but there is a real spirit in the squad. We have come together through all of that, and we can build on that spirit.
"Results haven't always been as good as they should be in the league, and it is easy to make excuses.
"With me, I could say, 'I'm a young player, I've played in different positions', but I don't want to make any excuses.
"It could be better, and that's the bottom line. But there are a lot of positives too. We lost against Arsenal last week, but you saw how well we played, and we can take an awful lot of positives from that.
"It's about progression. That's why I came here, to progress, and I think I can do that."
Again, it is said with a determination which suggests an inner steel that may yet ensure there are no regrets in the life of Jordan Henderson.
*
Jordan Henderson was speaking on behalf of 188BET, official betting partner of Liverpool FC. For a free £25 bet visit 403 Error - Location Forbidden - 188BET
Team news: Cattermole and Sessegnon banned, Agger's still out
Simon Bird's Premier League previews and predictions (Week 28)
Dalglish: Okay. Yes. We DO have a problem scoring enough goals...
