Liverpool manager has explained his reasons for making wantaway midfielder Philippe Coutinho the captain in the Reds recent clash with Swansea City.
Despite incessant talks of an exit from Anfield, Philippe Coutinho was selected as the captain of Liverpool during the Reds recent clash with Swansea City and many eyebrows were raised due to this decision.
Coutinho has been at the center of a transfer saga for months linking him with a move to Barcelona but after the Brazilian’s impressive performances over the past few months, many have been convinced that the flamboyant midfielder is willing to stay at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp was asked about the possibility of holding on to Coutinho following this gesture by Liverpool and the German responded in a unique manner suggesting that the Brazilian was not chosen the captain to boost the chances of holding onto to him.
Klopp told reporters, “I don’t want to make it any less romantic but when Hendo and Milly aren’t playing, Philippe Coutinho is our next longest-serving.
“That was why he was captain. Maybe I could be smarter and think ‘If I give him the armband, he will never leave’. But that is not how it works. Obviously he dealt with it really well because it can mean different things.
“You can feel the lift or the pressure and it didn’t disturb him. He is in a really good moment and I’m not sure the armband had a big influence. He has been very good in the last few weeks, when he wasn’t wearing the armband.
“It is a different thing to what Hendo and Milly are doing in the dressing room and around the club. Having it on the pitch is important but not in the same way.”
