Liverpool came very close to winning the Premier League in the 2013/2014 season but eventually lost to Manchester City.
Lucas Leiva has admitted Liverpool took the wrong approach in their crucial home game against Chelsea in the 2013/14 season in which they were crowned Premier League champions.
Lucas spent ten years at Liverpool, constantly struggling to break into the starting XI under six different managers. The Brazilian joined the club after making appearances in his native country but found his form failing him on his move to England.
He stayed at Anfield until 2017 before leaving with his head held high and was considered a respected scooter by many supporters.
Lucas said this on the We Are Liverpool podcast in the UK. “I struggled a bit with everything, but slowly I realized what I had to do. Rafa was very patient with me.
“The 36-year-old Spaniard spoke fondly of life under Rafael Benitez after signing him in the summer of 2007. She said: “He was like a father to me. Especially when I was at my lowest point.
He found me new positions where I had to learn how to defend, how to defend and how to take the ball to deeper positions. “Without Rafa, my career at the club would not have continued.
“The former midfielder admitted his early days on Merseyside were difficult as he struggled to adapt to playing for the first team and his country. But thanks to the Spanish speakers on the team at the time and the help of Sami Hypia, he settled in quickly. “Hypias was a great person for me. He was in the last years of his career and he was my role model,” he admitted.
Benitez left after Leiva’s third season, appointing Roy Hodgson, who had struggled alongside him. But the Brazilian had to wait six months for a change of manager at Anfield.
The Reds re-appointed Sir Kenny Dalglish as manager and Leiva and his form for the club was a match made in heaven.
Leiva: “It was really magical because I connected with him immediately and he made me feel important. “It’s probably my best moment at the club.”Despite enjoying one of the most impressive spells with the club this term, Leiva suffered an ACL injury which kept him out for long periods.
Once he is back to full fitness for the Reds, Brendan Rodgers will be the new man. The game will give the team a challenge for the 2013/2014 title and Lucas said it was a challenge he missed.
He said: “Maybe because of the lack of experience, there is pressure to win the race. We would have won the league for the first time in the club’s history and that didn’t help. “Maybe we were a bit arrogant against Chelsea but we could have equalised.
“The defensive midfielder ended his career at Liverpool under current manager Jurgen Klopp. However, it was another difficult time for him as his German time was reduced and he had to take another class. “I can get serious when I’m not playing,” he admitted.
Looking back, Leiva realizes he was part of the Champions League winning team as he was part of the development under Klopp before leaving the club and playing for five years.
