Coutinho slammed for Barca move by Liverpool owner

‘They must play 30 or so meaningless matches per year’

Liverpool owner John Henry has had a right old pop at Philippe Coutinho, and Luis Suarez for that matter, for having the temerity to leave Anfield for Barcelona.

Suarez swapped Merseyside for Catalunya in 2014 and has gone on to win three La Liga titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and the Copa del Rey four times.

Coutinho arrived in January, after Liverpool reluctantly allowed him to move, and has picked up a double in his first season at the club.

Henry still seems a little bitter about the whole thing, and his comments suggest he probably doesn’t watch too much Spanish football.

"Maybe it's because I'm an American, but I have a difficult time understanding why anyone would want to leave Liverpool,” he said.

"The club is so rich in history and tradition, supported by so many millions around the world, in virtually every country of the world.

"You don't want to be in the position where players want to go somewhere else, even if it is a great club like Barcelona.

"It's hard to understand why players would want to go to a league where the competition is so weak. They must play 30 or so meaningless matches per year waiting for Champions League matches.''

“They'll be watching this weekend and could have been playing.”

Source | ESPN

Of course Henry is currently experiencing his top moment as Liverpool owner with the Reds set to play Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Interestingly, reports in the UK on Friday say Liverpool have decided they will give Coutinho a winners’ medal if they are victorious in Kiev. The winners will be given 40 gold medals to distribute and Coutinho, who scored five goals in five Champions League games for Liverpool this season, will apparently be sent one.