Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has admitted he feels a sense of relief now that news of his departure has been made public. The Scotland international will depart the Reds at the conclusion of the season after a trophy-filled nine years on Merseyside.
Despite signing from then-relegated Hull City for £8million, the full-back insists he will 'never accept' the tag of Anfield legend. The 32-year-old will leave on a free transfer when his contract concludes at the end of the campaign.
Robertson, who has lifted two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup during his time at the club, has seen his influence in the Reds' starting line-up wane following the arrival of Milos Kerkez last summer.
The left-back is poised to captain Scotland at their first World Cup appearance since 1998, when Steve Clarke's side compete in the tournament staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
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Speaking to the official Liverpool website, he said: "I think I feel better now that it's out in the open. The hardest bit [in] the last certainly couple of weeks and months is some people that are close to me in the training ground don't know and more importantly, the fans.
"The closer it gets, the more and more questions you start to get. I've always said that the fans are the most important people at this club and I just think now is the time to tell them what's going on and that obviously this will be my last year.
"I just think it's better being out in the open, that now I can fully focus on the team from now until the end of the season. I think it's important that I do that, I've always done that.
"But the time to have the emotional farewell and tell the fans and the people connected to this club what they mean to me, that will come closer to the end. I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet. It's just to try to get it out there so I can now be open and honest with everyone."
A cornerstone of the side for the past nine years, Robertson had to earn his place in Jurgen Klopp's starting line-up. With Liverpool's Premier League title defence proving underwhelming, the full-back has seen his playing time diminished.
Robertson attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur during the January transfer window, yet the Scotsman opted to remain at Anfield. He will join Mohamed Salah in saying an emotional goodbye to Liverpool come May.
Both Salah and Robertson will be hoping to sign off with Champions League glory, though the club face a considerable challenge in overturning a two-goal deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg.
The Scotland captain said: "I'll let other people say if I'm a Liverpool legend or not – I think you know me well enough that I will never accept that. But from minute one I came into this football club, I wanted to be successful. I wanted to try to bring trophies back to this football club, try to help put us back onto a place where I believe this football club belongs.
"I'm very proud that I've been a part of fantastic teams that have been able to do that. The club means everything to me. The people within the club mean the world to me. The fans have always taken to me. I always remember my debut against Crystal Palace when I was a relative nobody – obviously signing from Hull City, only £8 million.
"I played my debut and already the Kop had sung my name. It was a moment I couldn't quite believe. Then the next three months I'm not seen again, which I remind Jürgen [Klopp] of quite a lot. When I found my chance, that's what kept me going in that time and when I got my chance I just wanted to make the people within this club and the supporters proud of the left-back they're seeing performing week in, week out.
"They have been outstanding with me, unbelievable with me. Always supported me, always been so positive about me. I couldn't have asked for a better fan base. I couldn't have asked for better people within the training ground, keeping me going. The nine years, I'll look back with a big smile on my face. I do get emotional at times.
"Now is not that time but saying goodbye to everyone will be difficult. But it's also the time to do so and it's also something to celebrate with the nine years we've all had together."
