Martin Skrtel has paved the way for leaving Liverpool this summer after hinting at problems in his relationship with Brendan Rodgers.
The Liverpool defender has not started a Barclays Premier League game since being dropped following the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on January 13 and was criticised by Rodgers after an underwhelming performance against Oldham in the FA Cup.
Skrtel is currently sidelined with a knee injury but, even if he was fit, the Slovakia international does not believe he would be in Rodgers’ plans and says his situation will need to be looked at in the summer if he remains out of the side.
‘We have (spoken) but it is not ideal,’ Skrtel told Denik Sport, when asked if he had received an explanation for being out of the team. ‘He (Rodgers) told me something on this, gave me some explanation, but it’s hard to tell if it was the true reason he gave me.
‘I don’t think it was and think there is something else behind it. Anyway, I’m not the type of player who would be chasing the coach and be in his office all the time, asking for explanations why I’m not playing. I have never done this, I’m not doing it now and I never will be.
‘If the coach wants to tell me something, he will summon me. The coach has his ideas about the line-up and the question is if I would be in it if I was fit. I would say it’s likelier I wouldn’t.’
Liverpool are set to be in the market for at least two central defenders this summer – Rodgers watched Feyenoord’s Stefan De Vrij on Sunday – given that Jamie Carragher is retiring and it is likely that Sebastian Coates will be also be allowed to leave in order to get first team football.
But Skrtel, who only signed a new contract last summer, could also go and he has been linked with Anzhi Machachkala and his old Zenit St Petersburg. He has refused to quell the idea he will move on.
‘For three years at Liverpool I was playing in almost every match and even in the national team I have played a lot of games,’ said Skrtel. ‘I have had various thoughts but certainly I’m not going to make any hot-blooded decision.’
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I think that Skrtel is a great player but this season he put on some performances that were below par. He will be missed but at the same time no one is indispensable. As long as Liverpool sign a worthy replacement it should be ok.