Former Red Credits Jordan Henderson’s Leadership for Champions League Success

Taking on the Liverpool captaincy following Steven Gerrard was always going to be a thankless task, and there is perhaps no player on the planet who could have done so to the satisfaction of some Liverpool fans.

According to former Red midfield great Jan Molby, though, Jordan Henderson has shouldered that responsibility admirably—even if it might not be until he too is gone that some realise how good and important he’s been.

“Once Jordan is gone, people will look at the void that he leaves and think, ‘Oh wow’,” Molby told the club’s official website. “He’s never been scared of confronting the criticism—by that I mean, you [just] go out and play your game.

“Some people try to change their play, other people buckle under that constant, ‘Can we get somebody better?’ [but] the biggest compliment you can have as a player is if the manager keeps on picking you.”

And, according to Molby, the reason Henderson keeps getting picked is leadership. It’s drive and determination and an ability to impress that on teammates, which the fans don’t always see but is essential for a winning side.

“It’s often overlooked how important these people are,” Molby added, though having just lifted Liverpool’s sixth European Cup, for the time being at least Henderson might not be quite so overlooked as before.