Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Left ‘Surprised’ by Lack of Communication from Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was left ‘surprised’ by the lack of communication from Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool over his future before it was publicly announced ahead of last season’s final home game. After six years and 146 appearances, Oxlade-Chamberlain was one of a handful of experienced figures who left the club in the summer after his contract came to an end.
In his final season, the 30-year-old, who now plays for Besiktas, made just 13 appearances despite being fit for much of the campaign. There was little expectation of a new contract among the masses, but Oxlade-Chamberlain was left surprised by the silence over his future – which was ultimately communicated to him days before the final home game against Aston Villa.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Disappointment at Lack of Communication
“I just guess you want that [your place in the team] communicated to you because you start going out of your mind thinking, ‘What more can I do here?’,” he told the Athletic.
“And it was never really written off that you’re not getting offered a new contract. It was never said,” he reflected on the communication over a new contract. “I obviously got the picture,” he said with a laugh. “I got told before they released the statement (three days before the Villa game): ‘Just so you know, we’re putting this out about you, Milly, Bobby and Naby leaving’. And I was like, ‘Oh, OK. Thanks’. But there was nothing official at any point before. It was just, the silence was enough to know what the situation was.”
Klopp’s Silence Surprising to Oxlade-Chamberlain
That silence, surprisingly, extended to Klopp with Oxlade-Chamberlain having expected to be told where he stood but it never transpired that way – though he made sure to say the two had a “good relationship.”
“You just, expect certain things to be told — whether it’s good, bad, whatever, that’s how the game goes,” he explained. “The lack of communication was, a bit surprising. We [Ox and Klopp] had a good relationship. There was never any falling-out or anything like that. I understand as a manager it’s not easy to navigate every player’s needs, but when I was playing, I definitely enjoyed him a lot more than when I wasn’t even on the bench,” he laughed. “But that’s how it goes.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain Reflects on His Time at Liverpool
It is not to say there are any hard feelings from Oxlade-Chamberlain, far from it, but it does shine a light on how cutthroat and ruthless professional football can be.
“I had great, great times at Liverpool,” he stressed. “I couldn’t say anything bad about my time there. I wouldn’t even say it ended badly.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s experience at Liverpool serves as a reminder of how quickly things can change in professional football. Despite having a good relationship with Jurgen Klopp and enjoying his time at the club, Oxlade-Chamberlain was left surprised by the lack of communication from Klopp and Liverpool over his future. While it is understandable that managers have to make difficult decisions when it comes to players’ futures, it is important that they communicate these decisions clearly and effectively in order to maintain good relationships with their players.