Andy Robertson admits he did not know if he would be good enough to succeed at Liverpool and his first few months at Anfield created further doubts.
Having joined from Hull in 2017 for £8million, a barely believable sum in the modern market, he made just three starts before December as Jurgen Klopp had reservations about his defending.
The low-maintenance left-back eventually plucked up the courage to knock on the manager’s door – and never looked back.
“I was sh***ing myself. Honestly, it was getting to a point where I had to say something,” said Robertson, who bids an emotional farewell to Anfield against Brentford on Sunday.
“I have never had that confidence. I have always felt uncertainty but wherever I have been, I have always just wanted to play.
“It got to October when the conversation happened. It wasn’t confrontational, I wasn’t having a go. The first question I asked him was, ‘what do I need to do to get into your team?’.
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“He thought it was obvious. We’d had a conversation back in the March or April and I had maybe forgotten what he had told me so it was nice to get that refresh.
“I just went in the next day and I thought, ‘everything he has said to me, I am going to do. If I fail, I fail’.
“I didn’t know if I was going to be good enough and I didn’t know if I would win trophies but I promised myself I was going to give 100 per cent every day to have the best possible chance. That’s what I’m most proud about.
“But after that conversation, everything clicked. I took the attitude of, ‘I’m at Liverpool and I’m going to do everything I can to make this work’. After that day, me and him never really looked back.”
Robertson won the Champions League and two Premier League titles, as well as the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup twice, FIFA World Club Cup and UEFA Super Cup but his departure almost signals the end of the great Klopp team as Mohamed Salah is also leaving, while Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez’s futures are in doubt.
It is fitting that former Liverpool captain and one of Robertson’s best friends Jordan Henderson will be in Brentford’s squad.
Henderson will receive a belated farewell after surprisingly leaving for an ill-fated spell in the Saudi Pro League in 2023. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher will also be in the Brentford team.
“I’m delighted that I won’t be the only one doing it. That was my worry, being front and centre of the whole thing,” said the no-frills Scotland captain.
“I’m glad one of our Egyptian friends (Salah) might take a bit more of the limelight. I can just sneak underneath that.
“Obviously the farewell will be emotional. I really hope Hendo gets a pretty special ovation on Sunday (for) what he did for this club, how he led us to win those trophies.”
The 32-year-old decided to leave after losing his starting place to Milos Kerkez and discussions over a new deal ended when the two parties’ expectations did not meet.
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“I am happy I’ve had nine years and I leave with no regrets, no bitterness,” he said.
“This club is unique. When you step away, it is always going to be difficult but it is also about finding happiness elsewhere, which a lot of people have shown can be done.
“For me, some (who left) maybe felt they still had more to give to Liverpool. I look back on my nine years and I know I have given absolutely everything.”
