Adrián spoke to Marca ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid earlier this evening, and he had some kinds words to say.
His generous comments were aimed towards Thiago Alcântara, who has been the subject of some criticism since moving to Anfield.
He wasn’t named in the starting XI to face Los Blancos, although Liverpool looked much improved after he replaced Naby Keita.
Speaking in defence of his fellow Spaniard, the £50,000-a-week glovesman told Marca: “Of course. Thiago is receiving absurd criticism. He has more than demonstrated what a great player he is and he will also prove it at Liverpool.
“He comes from a different League, where he plays at a different pace, he had several injuries, COVID-19. That makes it difficult to adapt and, on top of that, the team has not been at his level.”
Any criticism aimed towards Thiago is just downright foolish.
The 29-year-old arrived on Merseyside to much fanfare, given his status as a two-time Champions League winner and one of Europe’s best playmakers.
However, as soon as he arrived, Jürgen Klopp’s side were hit with a horrible injury crisis which severely disrupted the balance of the team.
Originally, one would presume that Klopp planned to play Thiago next to the tough-tackling Fabinho, with Jordan Henderson doing the legwork while the Spaniard dictated the play.
However, both Fabinho and Henderson ended up at centre-back, so Thiago was left to fulfil jobs that he wasn’t used to doing.
Additionally, the former Barcelona maestro almost had his leg snapped in half by Richarlison, which left him on the sidelines for months.
Furthermore, he’s had to settle into a country he’s never played in before, all in the midst of a global pandemic.
In this respect, anybody who has been critical of Thiago simply isn’t being fair on the 41-cap Spain international, who will surely come good soon.
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