We know fans get annoyed when we talk about Coutinho, but thought this was a mighty interesting story that’s just come to light.
Melissa Reddy has penned a long, analytical piece about Liverpool’s season for Joe.co.uk – and we really encourage you to follow that link and take a look!
SEE MORE:
‘Unluckeee…’ Coutinho’s nightmare: Barca embarrassed as LFC cruise into semis
But the section we found most interesting is about our former no.10 and his conduct last summer.
The Brazilian desperately wanted to leave Anfield after Barcelona made their interest known, but was made to wait until January as Liverpool’s owners didn’t want to be pushed around by the Spanish giants and their horrible unsettling tactics.
Despite Coutinho being made aware of this, he did everything in his power to force Liverpool into selling – including organising a meeting with senior players in an attempt to get them to speak to the powers that be and allow a transfer to Camp Nou:
“One August afternoon, a desperate Coutinho approached the senior players’ committee and pencilled in a talk in one of the meeting rooms on Melwood’s ground tier,” Reddy writes.
“He appealed to them to change the club’s mind, and while he knew the squad wanted him to stay, he also figured fellow professionals would recognise why he felt this was a ‘dream step’ that was critical to take.
“For all the chicanery that occurred during the summer window, it was the folding of his teammates into the fuss that most annoyed Klopp.
“So when the deal was done and Coutinho was off, the manager rounded up the full group in the dressing room at the training complex and delivered an incisive address.
“The message was that they’d lost a great player and a friend, but it was no more than that. He told them to not give anyone on the outside a chance to say that Phil going has affected their season.”
What’s brilliant is that neither Klopp nor his players have let Coutinho’s exit affect our season negatively at all.
In fact, many would suggest our run to the Champions League Final proves it’s invigorated us as much as anything.
We, like many fans, were confused in January when Liverpool decided not to replace Phil, despite being armed with £142m – but like so many of Klopp’s seemingly odd choices – it’s proved wise.
While Coutinho’s new side lost to Roma in the CL quarters, Liverpool stuck seven past them in the semis and are facing Real Madrid on May 26th.
Coutinho was entitled to do what was right for him and his family, but the most important man at Liverpool, by some distance, is Jurgen Klopp. And while he’s in charge, we’ll believe in the impossible.