Sunday, June 19, 2011

Aurelio Impressed By Lucas

Liverpool left-back Fabio Aurelio believes midfielder Lucas Leiva has matured into a top-class midfielder.

Lucas joined Liverpool in 2007 but a series of below-par appearances in his first two seasons did little to convince the Anfield faithful.

However, the 24-year-old has started 68 games for Liverpool in the subsequent two seasons, and he was named Liverpool's best player during the 2010-11 Premiership season by members of the club's official website, taking 40 per cent of all votes.

Aurelio feels that Lucas has grown into the role, and shown great maturity in dealing with the boo-boys in the first two seasons.

"He has shown great personality and capability to change things around. We remember that at the beginning the fans were not very happy with him but he was patient and remained concentrated on his work and now we can see that he is a man who can do the job.

"He deservedly has a new contract with the club and we hope that he can spend a lot of years here in Liverpool because he can be a great player for us, just like he was last season."

Lucas became the youngest player ever to receive the Bola de Ouro in the Campeonato Brasileiro in 2006, and many Liverpool fans expected the former Gremio player to show the silky skills of former winners Romario, Robinho, and Kaka.

Lucas' game is more functional, but compatriot Aurelio is delighted that Reds' fans are starting to see his talents.

"I think there was a great impact to move from Brazil to England because there is a very different style of football and also he was very young when he arrived here," he said.

"So together with the big changes it was very difficult for him in the beginning and the pressure was there as well."

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