Nuri Sahin did not have the greatest of six months in a Liverpool shirt, after the English Premier League club sealed a season-long loan signing from Real Madrid amid much fanfare last summer, and the midfielder has laid the blame for his lack of success at Anfield on manager Brendan Rodgers.
Sahin struggled to make an impact in 12 appearances for Liverpool, and his loan move was cut short, with the Turkish international moving back to his old club Borussia Dortmund.
The 24-year-old claimed the decision by Rodgers to play him out of position was a major factor in his underwhelming spell at Anfield.
"I did not fail at Liverpool," he told AS. "Brendan Rodgers wanted me to play as a No. 10. But I do not play behind the strikers.
"I talked to him and asked him why he was playing me there. It is not my real position. The coach could not answer me ... Still, no regrets.
"To play at Anfield was a wonderful experience. And maybe if I had not gone there I would not have been able to return to Borussia Dortmund. For that, I am happy.
"Thank God I have left Brendan Rodgers."
Those comments are in complete contrast to the ones he made about Rodgers when he made his move from Real at the beginning of the season.
"The only reason I am here is that I know that I can play football, I know that I have a manager who trusts in me and the way I play, and I am at a huge club," he said in August of 2012.
"That is why I am here ... He told me about English football and said that I would love the Premier League because it is the best league in the world. I made my own mind up about Brendan Rodgers."
Sahin said he was really happy to return to Dortmund, where he made a name for himself, and was enjoying his time with the German champions.
"I feel good physically and mentally, everything is perfect," he added. "After returning to Germany I feel much better. Here my goal is to finish second, because the Bundesliga title is difficult. But, with a little bit of luck, we want to go for the Champions League."
