Lucas: ‘I never thought about centre-back, now I’m a natural’
Lucas Leiva says he never thought about playing at centre-back, but now believes it is his best position for Liverpool.
The Brazilian has started six games in all competitions this season and five of those have been in defence, with the latest resulting in a 4-3 defeat to Bournemouth.
But before last season the 29-year-old had always been used in the midfield holding role.
“To be honest, playing there is something I had never thought about before the manager suggested it,” Lucas told the Liverpool Echo.
“The manager has put a lot of trust in me there. He thinks I have the qualities to play there. Every game I feel more comfortable and I feel more natural there.
“I’d say it’s probably my best position to play for Liverpool. Over my last 20 to 25 games for the club, I’ve played maybe 18 or 19 matches as a centre-back.
“I feel very comfortable in that role now. And when he needs someone to play in midfield he knows he can count on me there too.
“It hasn’t been so different. Of course with the way Jurgen likes to play, the holding midfield player has to do a lot more I’d say in terms of what I used to do before in that holding role.
“Playing as a centre-back is something similar. You don’t run as much as when you are in midfield but you need to be very focused. You need to be able to read the game. Every game I play there I try to improve and keep playing well.”
Lucas, who has six months remaining on his deal, almost moved to Galatasaray in the summer before Jurgen Klopp had a last-minute change of heart.
The Turkish giants were understood to have agreed a cut-price £2.3million move with Liverpool, before injuries a series of his defenders were injured in the summer.
The player’s agent Metin Korkmaz in August said Lucas had had his heart set on the deal.
“Klopp was behind the transfer hitting the rocks, he wants Lucas to stay and the player had to listen,” Kormaz said.
“If it was up to Lucas he would have made the transfer.”