IN a TAW Player hour-long exclusive, Lucas Leiva speaks to Andy Heaton and Gareth Roberts about 10 years at Anfield.
In an open and honest interview, the Brazilian, signed from Gremio for £5million in May 2007, talks first about his early problems settling in as a 20-year-old after swapping Porto Alegre for a new home in Merseyside 6,400 miles away.
How is it to be a young footballer in an unfamiliar city when you can hardly speak the language?
Lucas also reveals how he initially struggled with the Premier League, while also discussing how it was to compete for a starting spot with the ‘best midfield in the world’ of Xabi Alonso, Momo Sissoko, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano.
How did he feel in the Merseyside Derby when Phil Neville handballed his goalbound what-should-have-been winner? Could that have changed how he was perceived by some fans?
The midfielder-turned-defender talks about how he felt he was the scapegoat for some team performances back then while also getting into the ups and downs of his relationship with Liverpool fans. How much are players influenced by what they hear coming from the stands – good and bad?
We also asked Lucas about social media trolls, what the future holds and the times he almost left Liverpool.
There’s all this and more in a must-listen interview only on TAW Player.
Absolutely fantastic interview! Well done TAW.
Lucas is such a good guy and is very thoughtful and intelligent – I wish all Liverpool players had his attitude.
Respect.
Couldn’t have said it any better. He’s a pure gent. Well in lads.
Love Lucas, will be sad when the day comes that he leaves. He’s not the flashiest player but he’s a valuable member of the squad and he’s helped many of our Spanish speaking contingent to find their feet. Good guy.
Lads the content when the redmen are not playing has been exceptional
WTRDPWAW
Well done !
Lucas is an honest, hard working, and likeable man who “gets” the LFC culture and appreciates it just as the supporters for the most part have come to appreciate him. He is very valuable particularly with helping Latin players to adapt to Liverpool as Fabio Aurelio, Alavaro Arbeloa, and Yossi Benayoun helped him to adapt. I hope that he eventually has at least an ambassadorial role for LFC when his playing days are done.
Super interview. I love what Lucas brings to our team. Huge respect for the man
Great interview. What a top lad is Lucas. So good to hear from players like this….. well interviewed by Gareth and Andy. TAW is in a great place to build on these types of interview. Well done
Great interview that mad how someone from Brazil understands us as a city and fanbase so well. Lucas is a scouser ha
Spot on Aaron, lads like Lucas are so important to the fabric of the club. Plus, he’s a very capable squad member. I think we’re often a bit guilty of taking him for granted.
Just a simple thanks lads
Keep getting error message when I press play….. ?
Crackin show lads, couldn’t have chosen a better player to do that with.
I for one appreciate you Lucas as do TAW as you could clearly tell from the interplay between the three here. The lows cut the deepest over ten years and consequently they itch more than the highs, but he hasn’t forgotten those highs, the balm for the deep cuts no less. And to us fans, the true buzz that comes from those highs is the opiate we crave. Like the job Lucas did on their ‘Arry – ‘He may be one of yours, ya cockerney farts, but here’sssssss LUCAS…He’s one of ours – suck that!’ Seeing him kill a move before it can get started…Oh the joy!
From that interview, it’s clear Lucas not only gets this club; he gets us Scouse big time. JK should be tying a long rope on him if does go. Pull him back when he retires and have him here as ‘a naturalised Scouse’, father to our future young Brazillians and other S. American players, helping them make the decision to come then helping them in transition to our “Country within a Country”. On that, could we have ever wanted a player to say something better about our city? Could we fuck!
Again lads, fuckin brilliant post. Thanks
Lucas <3
Great interview thank you to all involved. I’ll admit that I started as a critic of Lucas in the early days but have come to love and respect the attitude, work ethic and talent of this man. You could do much worse than have someone like him represent the club and the fans
Fair play to Lucas, could have left numerous times but stayed until he has achieved ‘respected’ status.
Great podcast bringing out the human side of one of our senior players. He has come a long way in 10 years. Well done.
Well done Andy and Gareth. The interview flowed so well. Here in America radio hosts tend to take really long in formulating the question and at times abruptly end the players responses so they can dictate the flow of the interview. I love the directness and rope you gave him to answer your questions. He came across as really genuine because of the ability to express himself properly. Good on you to not sidestep his moments of not being at his best level. Top lad and a true Red.
Great interview..alot of good stuff and insight. I would have loved to heard about his switch from centre mid to c/half and how that came about.
Also I would have loved to go deeper into our bad run..What he think caused it.
Maybe we could have also talked about what he thinks we are missing to become tittle winners..Where we need to strengthen..
Won’t let me play it comes up with error
Arrrrgghh been trying to play this for 2 days, I just keep getting an error message? From all the comments it sounds great as well. Please help!!
Have always enjoyed Lucas’ play. So great to hear from him in so much depth. His work on the field has always shown his character and love for the club, and to be playing and respected by Klopp in this team proves his endurance and trust he garners. The football world needs more Lucas Leiva’s, but I’m surely silly we have THE Lucas.
Brilliant interview that and just underlines what a top lad Lucas is. Was in exceptional form before that injury at Stamford Bridge and has gone onto become a massive influence on the squad. Has always given his all for the Red shirt.
How many chumps gonna complain about their crap cell-data errors?! Wifi, you gits!
Top interview. ✊️
I’m on wifi, still can’t listen
Aye been trying to play the interview more or less everyday and still won’t work
Top bloke, whenever he goes it’ll break my heart.