As the captain of Liverpool, Jordan Henderson is a key figure in football and especially English football. After speaking to reporters about how his club’s medical staff were unable to get him fit enough for United game last season, he responded with “we don’t care”. He also spoke out against Manchester City being able to pick up players like Riyad Mahrez without having any significant hit on their finances.
Jordan Henderson has become the latest Premier League player to raise concerns over player welfare. He is worried that his contract may not be taken seriously by Liverpool, and is concerned about the impact it will have on his personal future.
So far this season, Jordan Henderson has made 22 appearances for Liverpool.
Jordan Henderson, Liverpool’s captain, is “concerned” that “nobody really takes player welfare seriously.”
Despite Covid-19 instances and injuries, the Reds will play five games in two weeks, including Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham.
Despite an increase in Covid-19 instances, Premier League teams decided to complete holiday fixtures during a meeting on Monday.
“I don’t believe people realize how severe it is unless they witness it for themselves,” Henderson added.
“Football is important to us,” he told Sport. “We want to be able to play at the top level every time we go on the field.” And, sadly, it is impossible to do so at this time.
“It’s been like this for a few years now, and it’s been challenging, but then you throw in Covid, and it becomes even more difficult and worse.”
“I’m afraid that no one is really concerned about the wellbeing of the players.
“I think choices are made – of course we want to play football, we want to go out there and play – but I’m concerned about player welfare, which I don’t believe is taken seriously enough, particularly now that Covid is here.”
“We’ll attempt to have background talks and have some influence moving ahead,” he says, “but I don’t think the players are getting the respect they need in terms of having someone speak for them independently and have the capacity to say this isn’t good for player welfare.”
Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders called the timetable “absurd” on Tuesday, while Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel claimed he had to take “great risks” with his players’ health.
Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, and Thiago were among the Liverpool players who were out against Tottenham due to positive Covid tests, while midfielder Henderson was out with a cold.
Last week, 90 positive Covid-19 tests were returned by Premier League players and club employees, resulting in the postponement of six of last weekend’s ten games.
“As players, we do talk about it because, at the end of the day, it impacts us directly,” added Henderson, who helped organize a charity drive for Premier League players last year.
“I understand that we are paid a lot of money to go out and play football,” he says. I understand and agree, but football is important to us. And particularly for those who play international and European games, you only get two or three weeks off each year at the most. I’m not convinced that’s enough to heal physically and emotionally from the previous season.
“However, there is no communication with players in terms of what they think, which is a major issue. I’m not saying they should make decisions based on what players think, because everyone will have a different opinion, but I believe they should be a part of the conversation because, ultimately, we are the ones who are going out and feeling it and playing it.”
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Jordan Henderson, Liverpool captain of the football club, is concerned about player welfare not being taken seriously. He believes it has been an issue for a while and that more needs to be done. Reference: liverpool football club.
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