Former Liverpool star criticises Brendan Rodgers for mistreating the player during his Anfield years…
Stewart Downing has blasted Brendan Rodgers over the way the manager treated the former Liverpool man during his time at Anfield, according to the DailyMail.
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The West Ham winger said that he felt let down by Rodgers, with Downing feeling like the Merseyside manager never really gave him a chance.
“I found it very difficult and the way it was handled – to come out in the papers and basically slag off your player by saying you don’t try – that was poor really,” Downing said.
“I got my head down, worked hard and got back in the team. I’ve always worked hard, probably because of the way I’ve been brought up. My dad would always remind me that football’s a short career and that you need to make the best of it. That’s why I found what happened at Liverpool difficult.”
“That kind of thing can tarnish a player’s reputation. If fans read that you don’t try, it gives the wrong impression. I was finding it hard after the first season I’d had at Liverpool. When that came out, to say I was disappointed would be an understatement,” he concluded.
The England international made 65 appearances during his two years at Liverpool, but he never really seemed to have the faith of the manager.
His end product was often criticised, only scoring three goals after his move from Aston Villa. He hasn’t improved much in that department since making the switch to West Ham in 2013 either, netting just twice in 37 appearances.
His pace is a fantastic asset, but without an end product it’s all for nothing really.
Downing was part of Kenny Dalglish’s English revolution at Liverpool which saw the likes of Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll brought in as well. He was arguably a victim of the British tax, English players in particular coming at a Premium in the Premier League. He cost the club £20m in 2011, which when compared to the £22.8m paid for Luis Suarez seems extortionate.