Liverpool skilled David Lynch pays tribute to ex-Reds defender Joel Matip following his retirement at the age of 33, labelling him “phenomenal in his peak”.
Liverpool skilled David Lynch has revealed the “one criticism” he had of Joel Matip‘s transfer to Liverpool following the Cameroonian’s retirement from football at the age of 33.
The centre-support departed Liverpool at the top of the 2023-24 season alongside Jurgen Klopp, Thiago Alcantara and Adrian following a glittering eight-One year spell, having arrived on a free transfer from Schalke 04 in 2016.
Matip was tipped to return to the Premier League and was at one stage talked about to own got offers from three top-flight clubs, as West Ham United, Fulham and Bournemouth pursued a summer season transfer for the Cameroonian.
On the opposite hand, Matip confirmed at the weekend that he had hung up his boots, and talking to Sports activities Mole, Lynch labelled the 33-One year-archaic a “phenomenal” defender in his most efficient years, although he admitted that his health file was a minor blot on the notebook.
“An underrated player. Went under the radar like everyone who’s Virgil van Dijk‘s partner tends to do, but he was phenomenal in his peak. The only criticism you would have of that transfer would be that he was a little bit injury prone,” Lynch talked about.
“If he could have got on the pitch more frequently, I don’t think there would have been any question marks about just how good a player he was because he was absolutely phenomenal in a key period for Liverpool, where they won everything.”
Matip overlooked 140 Liverpool games through hurt
“Just absolutely towering in the air and brilliant on the ball as well, so that’s a pretty great combination to have as a central defender, and a much loved character in the dressing room as well.”
In the route of eight successful years at Liverpool, Matip turned into a Premier League and Champions League winner, as successfully as to achieving Membership World Cup, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Astronomical Cup and Community Protect glory at Anfield.
The ex-Cameroon international – who moreover turned into critical for his brazen runs from the support – scored 11 dreams and equipped six assists in 201 fits for the Reds, however his Merseyside profession was moreover blighted by a host of health complications.
Prior to joining Liverpool in 2016, Matip had most efficient overlooked 17 games for membership and nation, however he sat out a staggering 140 fits for Klopp’s facet, together with 37 in his final season due to a cruciate ligament drag.
The centre-support performed accurate 14 occasions for Liverpool in 2023-24 and was denied an moral on-field farewell due to his ACL hurt, and he was moreover absent for the second half of the 2020-21 season on narrative of an ankle field.
‘Talking to cheeky Matip was devour pulling teeth’
© Imago
In spite of his unpleasant luck with accidents, Matip remains a fan favourite on Merseyside, and Lynch believed that his “cheekiness” performed a vital role in that, although it was delicate to pry information out of him.
“Kind of a quiet character – I interviewed him and it was a bit like pulling teeth at times, to be honest. Couldn’t really get loads out of him, but he was a really nice guy, very polite,” Lynch added.
“Sort of a quiet guy, but showed a little bit more of his cheekiness in a dressing room setting, and he was absolutely loved at Liverpool and a brilliant player as well. So a shame that his body’s letting down and he can’t play for a little bit longer, but I hope he enjoys his retirement because he was always great to deal with.”
Liverpool did now no longer signal an instant replacement for Matip within the summer season transfer window, however they only within the near past tied Jarell Quansah down to a fresh lengthy-duration of time contract, and Ibrahima Konate is moreover anticipated to lengthen his Reds deal within the reach future.
On the opposite hand, Van Dijk could even nonetheless leave for nothing when his new contract runs out at the top of the season, and uncertainty moreover lingers over the lengthy flee of Joe Gomez, who was heavily linked with an exit within the summer season.
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