HomeDirty TackleNow Steven Gerrard is criticizing Mario Balotelli for scoring winners

Now Steven Gerrard is criticizing Mario Balotelli for scoring winners

February 19, 2015

https://www.gettyimages.com/

For the second time this month, Mario Balotelli came off the bench to score a winner for Liverpool — this time in a Europa League match against Besiktas. And for the second time this month, Balotelli is getting criticized for how he did it.

With Steven Gerrard out of the squad for the night and serving as a pundit for ITV, Jordan Henderson was serving as captain. But when Liverpool were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute with the match still scoreless, Balotelli insisted on taking it ahead of Henderson since he’s only missed two in his entire career.

https://www.gettyimages.com/

Balotelli converted the penalty and gave Liverpool a 1–0 win, but Gerrard still had a problem with the way it played out. And instead of having a quiet word with Balotelli back at Melwood, he decided to air his disproval in front of the ITV cameras.

However, Henderson didn’t seem too bothered by it in his post-match interview, saying, “Obviously I wanted the penalty, but Mario felt confident and he’s took big penalties before. […] I felt confident in Mario, so he got the nod.”

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3TCxY6umYJc

Balotelli, meanwhile, posted a picture on Instagram of him hugging Henderson with a caption that reads, “Thank you hendo for let me take the penalty.. Stop drama now. We won that’s what it count. We are a team and expecially [sic] we are Liverpool. Come on guys.”

When Mario scored the winner against Spurs nine days earlier, it was Phil Neville who criticized him for not celebrating, which the former Everton captain interpreted as a lack of team spirit instead of Balotelli’s normal reaction to scoring.

Mario Balotelli is the only man on the planet who is consistently criticized for doing his job correctly. Even by his own teammates.

Howler

Contributors

Howler

TAGS

Zidane: “The Champions League made me dump other competitions so we can stay together”

January 27, 2018

Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan accidentally realize their dreams at the same time

January 23, 2018

Man United’s biggest January signing: This tractor

January 20, 2018

WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY “FREE.”
Enter your best email for full access to the site.