Micah Richards has shared that he got ‘so much abuse’ for calling Jordan Henderson ‘world-class’, as he stated that he ‘deserves’ to be named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.
There were sections of fans calling for Kevin De Bruyne to pick up that award, and Richards believes the Manchester City man has been the ‘standout’ performer in the Premier League this term, but still thinks Henderson was a worthy winner, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Many Liverpool captains in the past have tried but ultimately failed to end their long drought for a title, as Henderson was the man to eventually lift that trophy after 30 years.
Former Man City right-back, Richards, who played with Henderson for England’s U21’s, had nothing but pure praise for the midfielder.
“I actually said Jordan Henderson was world-class earlier on in the season,” Richards told BBC Radio 5 Live. “And I got so much abuse online.
“I just thought for me, he has raised his game. He’s not going to be, let’s be honest, a Kevin De Bruyne, with the way he plays the ball and opens up space. Gets on the ball and does 40-yard diagonals.
“But because he was sort of an understudy to Gerrard, and a lot of people were like ‘Oh, Henderson is coming in. How can he replace the God that is Gerrard?’
“But in terms of leadership skills, and how consistent he has been, I played with him at U21’s [for England] and I never thought that he would go onto be the player that he is. I thought he would be a very good Premier League player. But to go to the level that he’s at and become consistent, in terms of what he has done with Liverpool, I think he deserves it [the award].
“But if there’s one standout player in the whole league. I think Kevin De Bruyne would edge it. But, for all that he has done for Liverpool, he’s got the football writers, if he gets the players one aswell then he deserves it.”
Henderson has been a marmite-like figure ever since he made the switch from Sunderland to Anfield nearly 10 years ago.
It took him a while to win over his own supporters and it’s fair to say that he has done it in a spectacular fashion.
But in now seems there are still a large section of neutral fans who he is yet to win over, but he would simply point to his European Cup and Premier League medals.
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