With Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard set to leave the club at the end of the season manager Brendan Rodgers has a ready-made replacement in the form of Jordan Henderson.
Rodgers feels that Henderson is developing not only as a leader at the club, but also in his readiness to stand up for the club and its players as he did in the reported tunnel bust up with Chelsea striker Diego Costa Tuesday night.
“He is developing such leadership qualities, on the field and off it he will protect his team and his colleagues. You saw the other night he is very much a team player.
“I don’t think the rivalry spilled over, no. There will be no extra spice for the second leg, not at all. Jordan is a wonderful ambassador for the club, and for him, the captaincy isn’t just a guy putting on an armband – it is much more than that.
“He feels it is the representation of an iconic club that over the years has had many great captains and vice-captains.
“Watching Steven closely in his time, he will understand why I have given him it and the leadership qualities that are demanded. He will only grow and get better from it.”
“This is a guy who at the end of last season, when we were in for the title and he was sent-off against Manchester City, without telling anyone, he goes to someone here at the club and tells them ‘if there are any media duties to be done, I will do them’.
“He didn’t want any glory. He was thinking about the team, about his colleagues at a really important point of the season.
“He was willing take on all those duties to allow them to concentrate on their football and that is the type of young man that he is.”
