Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson says he feels he has been made a “scapegoat” at times this season with some of his performances having been criticized. The Scotland captain also came under fire during the international break as his national side lost heavily to Greece.
“A lot has probably been spoken about me this season, which is maybe something haven’t quite experienced in my time here,” he told Walk On magazine. “In one way, it is pleasing because I’ve had seven years of kind of going under the radar.
“Probably this season there is a bit more spotlight on me and things like that. It’s part and parcel of football. The fact is that I’ve been the starting left-back for Liverpool for eight years.
“I’m very proud of that. It’s not easy to do that at a club of this size when they can go out and sign anyone in the world. I want to still be the starting left-back, but you’ve got to take it on the chin. If people want to criticize you then so be it.”
Liverpool doesn’t return to Premier League action until Wednesday, when Robertson is likely to start at Anfield. Amid links with full-backs including Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, he feels some of the scrutiny on his showings has been unfair.
“I do believe that football’s getting a bit like that where people try to find scapegoats,” the 31-year-old added. “Maybe it’s been my turn, but if it’s my turn then it’s taken the spotlight off other players.
“I’ve seen it happen to players before and I’ll see it happen to people in the future. Obviously it’s my turn and I just need to keep my head down and I need to keep working hard.
“The manager is helping us all the time and the coaches are too and I believe I’m in a good moment just now, which maybe isn’t getting any recognition. It is fine, but sometimes when you make one mistake people jump on it and you just have to try to prove them wrong.
“I’ve made a couple of mistakes that’s been unlike me in certain situations, like the Fulham sending off. That wasn’t like me, but people look for a bigger issue that’s maybe not there.”
Liverpool.com says: There is no doubt that Robertson has improved in the last couple of months but his performance levels have not been at their peak this season. You can’t really argue too much with that. Given his age and the fact he will only have a year left on his contract come the summer, signing an upgrade should be a priority.
