Agger: Why I had to leave Liverpool
Kristian Hastrup Larsen - [email protected]
Published: 22 Sep, 2014 CET.
Updated: Mon 22 Sep 2014 09:47 CET
Conflicts with manager Brendan Rodgers sent Daniel Agger back into the arms of his former club Brøndby.
Danish international defender Daniel Agger raised more than a few eyebrows in the football world this summer when he rejoined boyhood club Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga, leaving Premier League giants Liverpool FC behind. In an openhearted interview with TV3 on Sunday, the central defender revealed why he felt he had no other option than to quit the Merseyside club where he had played for the past nine years. His relationship, or lack thereof, with manager Brendan Rodgers proved to be vital for Agger's decision. "Let me put it this way, the manager and I were perhaps not on the same page in all of last season. In most of last season at least," Agger said. Agger was more often than not dropped by Rodgers' Liverpool and got far less games than he expected, losing playing time primarily to France's Mamadou Sakho. "There was a big gap between us and for me that simply wasn't enough. I didn't feel he appreciated the things I can do and what I can offer. When I get to feel that way it is time to move on," Agger explained. "When you have taken part in quite a few games and you have collected a lot of points to the team and you actually have the feeling that you have contributed positively, and you then find your self left out and not appreciated, then you start to wonder," he added. Agger then explained that he and Rodgers had very different personalities, making it difficult for them to communicate. "When things went wrong between us, it could be because I am very direct. I say it as it is and I also expect that people do the same to me. Perhaps it is wrong to expect this all the time," he said. Despite their differences, Agger also praised Rodgers, who joined Liverpool from Swansea FC two years ago. “I think he is a great manager, you can’t take that away from him. He’s good in the way he trains the team and he is great at setting up the team," the Dane said. Agger made 232 appearances for Liverpool, after arriving from Brøndby in 2006. Despite the reunion with his old club, Brøndby was defeated by arch rivals FC Copenhagen 1-0 at Telia Parken on Sunday.
Comments
See Also
Danish international defender Daniel Agger raised more than a few eyebrows in the football world this summer when he rejoined boyhood club Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga, leaving Premier League giants Liverpool FC behind.
In an openhearted interview with TV3 on Sunday, the central defender revealed why he felt he had no other option than to quit the Merseyside club where he had played for the past nine years. His relationship, or lack thereof, with manager Brendan Rodgers proved to be vital for Agger's decision.
"Let me put it this way, the manager and I were perhaps not on the same page in all of last season. In most of last season at least," Agger said.
Agger was more often than not dropped by Rodgers' Liverpool and got far less games than he expected, losing playing time primarily to France's Mamadou Sakho.
"There was a big gap between us and for me that simply wasn't enough. I didn't feel he appreciated the things I can do and what I can offer. When I get to feel that way it is time to move on," Agger explained.
"When you have taken part in quite a few games and you have collected a lot of points to the team and you actually have the feeling that you have contributed positively, and you then find your self left out and not appreciated, then you start to wonder," he added.
Agger then explained that he and Rodgers had very different personalities, making it difficult for them to communicate.
"When things went wrong between us, it could be because I am very direct. I say it as it is and I also expect that people do the same to me. Perhaps it is wrong to expect this all the time," he said.
Despite their differences, Agger also praised Rodgers, who joined Liverpool from Swansea FC two years ago.
“I think he is a great manager, you can’t take that away from him. He’s good in the way he trains the team and he is great at setting up the team," the Dane said.
Agger made 232 appearances for Liverpool, after arriving from Brøndby in 2006. Despite the reunion with his old club, Brøndby was defeated by arch rivals FC Copenhagen 1-0 at Telia Parken on Sunday.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.