Given that Lucas Leiva is regarded as a consummate
professional at Liverpool, a player who trains with diligence and
determination, the Brazil midfield player should be one of
football’s least likely scapegoats.
But at a time when some of Rafael Benítez’s signings are being
questioned as never before, he has become a lightning conductor for
many of the frustrations on Merseyside as his team prepare for a
mighty battle against Manchester United at Anfield tomorrow on the
back of four defeats.
His detractors contend that he lacks the presence to dominate a
key area of the pitch in the manner required of a club who set
their sights on the biggest prizes. They pray for the swift arrival
of the expensive, but unproven and only just fit again, Alberto
Aquilani.
But what of the defence of the £6 million man from Grêmio? Lucas
has mostly kept his head down while his critics have had their
say.
But he has spoken this week about his relationship with the Kop,
the unswerving support of his manager and the huge expectations
that weigh on any footballer from Brazil.
Twenty-two is no age to judge a midfield player, certainly not
one who has spent all but the past two years of his footballing
life playing in a Latin American style, before being thrust into
the Barclays Premier League when his career is still in the
developmental stage.
And Lucas has not been helped by the fact that the job he
performs in Benítez’s team is one of the least glamorous, allowing
his more attack-minded team-mates to push forward while he and
Javier Mascherano ensure that balance is maintained.
It is not the kind of stereotypical role expected of Brazilian
footballers, with flair being sacrificed for functionality, but as
Lucas points out, even the Samba boys require a water carrier.
It is a job he has performed well enough to have won the Bola de
Ouro at 19 as the best player in the Brazilian league (as successor
to Carlos Tévez, Robinho and Kaká), to have captained the Brazil
Under-20 side and to have been called up by Dunga, the national
team coach, last month.
“Everybody knows I had difficult times here, especially with the
people who criticised me,” Lucas said. “What I would say, though,
is that the style of football in the Premier League is totally
different to Brazil. I know people sometimes expect Brazilian
footballers to play a certain way — to have unbelievable skill, to
be able to do tricks and be like Ronaldinho or Kaká, but I am in a
different position, where you cannot do those things and you have
to work for the team.
“This is my mentality, to try to help my team-mates. I cannot
think too much of the criticism. All I can do is try and do my job
and hopefully this will be good enough.
“Me and Javier have to be aware of the counter-attack because we
have a lot of offensive players. We have to make sure that we give
the defenders our support. Every team needs these kind of
players.”
Opinions are not quite as polarised as they once were and
although he is still trying to win over the Anfield crowd, there
have been no more incidents such as the one during Liverpool’s home
league game against Fulham last season, when he was booed by a
section of his team’s fans. He could have had his spirit broken by
such an episode, he could have allowed it to create a wedge between
him and the supporters, but instead he put it down to experience
and vowed to win them over.
In his darkest moments, Lucas was given the unconditional
backing of Benítez, who insisted that he would come good.
This week, however, roles have been reversed, with player
defending manager after Liverpool suffered their fourth successive
defeat.
“We are in a difficult moment, but we are the ones on the pitch
and it is up to us to improve,” Lucas said. “Rafa is a really good
manager and now we have to try to win for ourselves, but also for
him because he has been really good for us and for me in
particular.
“He gave me opportunities and he gave me confidence, so now I
want to pay him back by playing well, working really hard and
performing as he expects me to.