Georginio Wijnaldum pledged he will be a Liverpool supporter for life after making what could be his final appearance for the club on Sunday
The midfielder captained the Reds to a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Anfield that secured third place in the Premier League and qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Speaking post-match, Wijnaldum – who was given a guard of honour by teammates and staff after the final whistle – explained the game is currently set to be the last he plays for the side, with his contract set to expire in six weeks’ time.
The No.5 has clocked up 237 games, 22 goals and four major trophies – Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup – since signing from Newcastle United in 2016.
On his feelings
Happy, of course, because we qualified for the Champions League again. I think if you look back a few weeks ago, no-one thought it was possible to qualify for the Champions League again. So, I’m really happy that we still managed to turn it around and qualify for the Champions League. I think that’s something this club deserves, something the fans deserve – and the players also. But on the other side, also sad that it looks like it’s going to be my last game. It will come an end to the period at Liverpool.
On one moment he would go back to in his Liverpool career
I think everyone will think of the Barça game but, for me, it’s much bigger than that. I love football, I love this club a lot. I think the relationship that you have as a player with the club, with the team, with the technical staff, the people who work at [the training ground], that’s for me more important than all the things I basically had beside that. The prizes and everything were nice, but the feeling I had – thinking about those things I just said, it’s unbelievable. That’s why I was really happy and pleased that the government allowed 10,000 fans back in the stadium, because that’s just something special.
When people ask me, ‘How is it to play at Anfield for the supporters of Liverpool?’ it’s difficult for me to describe how it is, because I cannot find the right words for it. I just say, ‘That’s something you have to feel.’ Going to Melwood and now Kirkby, that’s something you have to feel, something you have to see as a player. For me, that’s the most important thing I will have in my heart. And of course the extra things – the Champions League; the title was unbelievable, especially because the club had to wait for 30 years. Unfortunately, we couldn’t celebrate it with the fans. But they were all the extras for me.
On having no regrets
The only regret I probably will have is that I couldn’t leave with a title or a prize, that would be really, really good for me, for the fans and for everyone. But everyone knows the circumstances we had during the season. It was really difficult – really difficult. But if you look how we changed it around, what I just said before, a few weeks ago I don’t think a lot of people would have thought that we could finish third and qualify for the Champions League. That’s a good one. I’m happy we could bring Liverpool to the Champions League and that I basically put them in a good spot when I leave.
On coming back to enjoy a game as a fan
If it’s possible, I would love to come back. The feeling I have, the feeling my family has with this club, is only good things. I hope that it would be possible that I come back to watch a game and support Liverpool because I will be a Liverpool supporter for life.