Jamie Carragher reflects on Javier Mascherano's departure- asks Liverpool fans to give ‘traitor’ Michael Owen a good welcome
Liverpool’s veteran Jamie Carragher believes that his former team mate Javier Mascherano let himself down by deciding not to play against Manchester City. The midfielder, who had been voicing his desire to leave Anfield, finally got his way when the deal was finalized between Liverpool and Barcelona.
But, Mascherano didn’t receive a warm farewell either from the club or its fans; instead he left in odd circumstances. Last week, there were reports that Javier had refused to play in Liverpool’s league game against Manchester City. However, the Argentine later denied the reports and said that he had spoken to the manager and there was an agreement between the two.
Carragher says that Javier would regret leaving the club the way he did. He said that although, changing clubs is normal for a football player and transfers keep happening everywhere, but there is a right way to do it and Javier missed that.
The 32-year-old defender told reporters that during the 3 years that Mascherano was at the club, he had no problems with him; Mascherano was a fantastic player and all the players got along well with him. Jamie added that had he left the club on a good note, it would have been much better as Liverpool fans are probably the most emotional ones in the world and they didn’t take it well. Neither did the team, as it was a surprise to the whole squad.
Carragher further added that if Mascherano had played in the match against Manchester City, the whole team and fans would have bid him farewell and it would have been the perfect way to part ways. But sadly he ruined it for himself. Meanwhile, Carragher appealed that former Liverpool star Michael Owen should be welcomed to Anfield with great respect when he comes to play in his testimonial on Saturday.
Owen, a former Liverpool player has been a long time friend of Carragher. He has agreed to put on the Red of Liverpool for the Testimonial match despite being a Manchester United player. Earlier, this English striker didn’t get the best of receptions when he had visited Anfield with Newcastle. However, now that he is a Manchester United player, the welcome is expected to be even more hostile. Even though the match is a testimonial and he would be playing in a Liverpool Jersey, the crowd is expected to not go easy on him.
Most of the fans at Anfield have still not forgiven Owen for leaving the club for Real Madrid. Carragher also expressed his fears, saying that the fans may still hold some animosity against Michael and might give him a hard time. But, he asked the fans to remember how much Owen had done for Liverpool and therefore, receive him as a hero instead of a traitor that they think he is.
The central defender said that Owen is a fantastic player and is one of the best strikers England has ever produced, leaving the club wasn’t easy for him, and later when he signed for Manchester United, he probably had no better choice. And his career was in a downward spiral. He went on to say that Owen was basically a man without a club at the time, and an opportunity to join one of the biggest clubs in the world was too good for him to let go. Jamie admitted that the fact that Owen went to United, which is amongst the bitter rivals of Liverpool, is something which had upset most fans, but still he expects them to let it go and give him a warm welcome back to Anfield.
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