Editor’s Column: My PLEA to LFC fans – Show Coutinho the love he doesn’t deserve

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Treat everyone like a gentleman; not because they are, but because you are…*

When Coutinho returns to the field, and at some point, he will; Liverpool fans should applaud a man who on the pitch has given his everything since 2013, warranting a rejected £118m bid from Barcelona this summer.

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We should show him why Liverpool fans are the best in the world and explain why he’s behaved in such a foolish, embarrassing manner for the past three months, via our actions.

Be better. Collectively, Liverpool fans must be the bigger man – because in the long run – it benefits us.

We should leave Coutinho thinking, ‘What on earth have I done?!‘ as he leaves the pitch to a standing ovation having curled another 30-yarder into the top corner…

But why?

Because we shouldn’t make his unhappiness the narrative of our potentially brilliant season. Because we shouldn’t cut our nose off to spite our face. Because we should absolutely regard Liverpool’s ambitions this term as more important than Coutinho’s. 

If your wife cheated on you, but had a winning lottery ticket, you should stick about for a while, collect the winnings and assess the situation later!

Obviously, an apology will smooth proceedings. Hopefully, Phil can send a message to the fans, preferably on bended knee – and we can all move forward – together.

Let’s make no bones about it: Jurgen Klopp is building a special team, shiny new centre-back or not. We’ve the most scintillating attack in the league and an ability to consistently thrash our so-called rivals. Tell me this doesn’t excite you as we enter the Champions League Group Stages…?

Stick a semi-motivated Coutinho into a central role and give him licence to feed Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino – and we’re as good as anybody in Europe. This is what we need to focus on – not the ‘he said/she said‘ that’s plagued our summer.

Why focus on the negative? Why let Coutinho, and more importantly Barcelona, win? Their sole aim this window was to unsettle us and create such a toxic environment that we had no choice but to give in to their persistence. FSG boldly and admirably refused – so as supporters, it’s our turn to do the same and refuse to be affected too.

So many fans are stubbornly suggesting we should ‘let him rot,’ or ‘boo,’ to show how upset we are. But what good does it do? How does it help Liverpool?

It’s about the HERE and NOW. It’s about a 2017/18 campaign in which one of the world’s best playmakers, Coutinho, is a Red. Let’s use him. Let’s maximise his potential to win us the trophy we so desperately want.

What good is making this season about the Brazilian’s angst? A bad vibe then flows throughout the squad, we don’t achieve anything and prove Coutinho and Barcelona right: that he is too good for us.

We’ve won the battle by keeping Phil; but we now need to win the war by watching Liverpool do the business. That requires a passionate, unified squad and a passionate, unified fanbase. 

Liverpool fans: be the best you can be and let’s enjoy a player who over the past six months has quietly reached a world-class standard.

Think of it like this: We’d have no problem if a Southampton player kicked up a fuss, disrespected his current contract and adoring fans to sign for Liverpool. So let’s just pretend we just bought Phil from the Saints…

Let them boo him at St. Mary’s while we lap up the goods!  

 

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