Coutinho: ‘I didn’t think twice about leaving’

Brazilian hails ‘top’ Liverpool FC

Ahead of the Merseyside Derby this Saturday, Brazilian magician Philippe Coutinho has revealed he jumped at the chance to sign for Liverpool FC, after enduring a turbulent two and a half years with Italian giants Inter Milan.

Whilst Coutinho, who was speaking to The Daily Telegraph, insists he has no regrets about leaving the San Siro outfit, he still has nothing but praise for his former club – and former manager Rafael Benitez in particular.

“Sometimes you can be a good player at a good club and for some reason it just does not work out,” said the 21-year-old.

“There is no explanation for it. Then you move to another club and it fits perfectly straight away and you feel comfortable.

“I had some chances at Inter, but after a few years – certainly by the time Liverpool were interested – I was not getting many chances. As a footballer all you ever want is the chance to play, and show people how well you can play. I knew at Liverpool I would get that opportunity so I didn’t think twice.

“You look at a club and you see a top European team, with top players and top ambitions to win every major trophy, even if it will take time. I didn’t even have to think about the decision.

“Jose Mourinho was the manager when I was preparing to join them, but he left before I moved to Italy. It was a difficult period, strangely, because they had won the national championship five times and just won the Champions League but the club was preparing for change,” added the number 10.

“Rafa Benítez had just become the manager and he was prepared to give me opportunities straight away as a younger player, but there were good players there who won a lot at the club – really good players – and things were not settled and it turned out not so good.

“I had a good relationship with Rafa, he was always very considerate towards me and gave me a lot of confidence. He cared a lot about all the younger players at Inter.”