Liverpool are the most successful club in English football history, and you don’t get to that point without having incredibly high standards.
Indeed, the Reds have been operating at the very highest level for decades at this point, and every player who pulls on that famous shirt is expected to give it their all.
However, sadly, it doesn’t always work out like that.
Some players don’t quite fit the ethos of Liverpool. Dietmar Hamman was a poor trainer, even though he was a great player, while El Hadji Diouf had attitude problems.
Speaking to The Redmen TV, Lucas Leiva has been asked to name who the worst trainer he played with at Liverpool was, and his answer wasn’t all that surprising.
Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty ImagesMario Balotelli was terrible in training
According to Lucas Leiva, the worst player he ever saw in Liverpool training was Mario Balotelli.
The striker joined Liverpool for £16m back in 2015, and it’s fair to say he didn’t have a great time at Anfield.
Dan asked Lucas Leiva which Liverpool teammate was the best trainer and what his favourite moment was, in our quick-fire questions ⚡️ @DiscoverHongKong 🤝🇭🇰 LucasLeiva LFC TheRedmenTV
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Jamie Carragher knew Balotelli would flop from day one, and, sadly, it seems like his famed attitude issues cropped up in training at times.
“Who was the worst trainer you played with at Liverpool?” Lucas was asked.
“Balotelli,” Lucas said.
Mario Balotelli should’ve done better at Liverpool
Balotelli was said to be poor in Liverpool training according to Lucas, but, according to Ian Graham, speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Balotelli’s time at Liverpool was more marred by bad luck than anything else.
“He didn’t really misbehave at Liverpool. He was just not really trusted, not given the opportunity. I don’t want to sort of say it’s all the manager’s fault or all Balotelli’s fault. He just didn’t get the opportunity. Didn’t produce at Liverpool in the same way he produced at other clubs,” Graham said.
“He didn’t get on the pitch in the same way that Mohamed didn’t get on the pitch at Chelsea. Funnily enough, looking back at it, I mean, I’m happy to talk about failure and this is not an excuse, but if you look at that expected goals to actual goals, it was Mario’s unluckiest season by far. He’s got like one league goal.”
Balotelli was a seriously talented player, who, under the right circumstances, could’ve been a star in the Premier League.
However, sadly, things didn’t work out for the Italian at Liverpool and he’ll always be remembered at Anfield as something of a flop.