Klopp: I never doubted the quality of Keita

[TLW]

Jürgen Klopp says that he always believed that the qualities of Naby Keita would come to the fore after the midfielder scored in his first league start of the season against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Just like in his first season for the club, it has been a frustrating time for the Guinea international who has battled injury along with trying to find a spot in the very competitive Liverpool midfield.

December was always going to be a challenging month for the European champions with a jam packed fixture list and therefore plenty of opportunities for fringe players to show their worth.

For the 24 year-old, that time came on the weekend where he was at his confident best, combining with Mo Salah on two occasions which sealed a very comfortable win.

Klopp is well known as a manager who not only has confidence in his players, but a great deal of patience too.

Basically if you are willing to put in the hard work, your time will come.

The Echo reported the thought process of Klopp.

He’s just been unlucky and in life you need luck always.

“He started really well Everyone forgot that and then he got injured and we’ve had two really good seasons.

“When you see a player like this, you ask why is he not playing week in, week out. Naby had injuries and then the team was in a really good shape so do you change?

“It’s not like when something’s working, you squeeze five more percent of the performance with another player."

 

Klopp also confirmed that there had been discussions between the pair.

“ Naby’s not been playing, I get that.

“So we stayed in contact and spoke a lot about it and in the end a player needs to have this evidence that his manager still believes in him.

“I was never in doubt about him and today has helped a lot, it’s really nice. Sometimes you have to talk to players.

“The boys got more and more used to each other, but then another injury came and he started again.

“This year, he wasn’t 100 percent when he started pre-season, but I was never in doubt about quality.”

 

 

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[moof]

Me neither, Jürg

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

Jurgen knows.

[Guest]

Baby Keith is becoming Naby Keita. This has to be seen as a good thing. 

[Funkasy]

Still a looooong way to go. 

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Funkasy said:

Still a looooong way to go. 

Let's call him Baby Keita. He can get fully converted when he helps win the League. 

[Dr Nowt]

Always been his biggest fan and, in my opinion, people who doubt him at the match are subhuman scum.

 

What? Fuck off?

[magicrat]

Keita plays one decent game again hapless opposition . I'm all for building up players confidence but lets see him doing it regularly.

[sh#t waffle]

When we signed him and Alisson, I told all who would listen that Keita was the one I had no doubts about and would prove to be one of the best players in the league. I was wrong, I hate them both and would happily cancel their contracts immediately.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

I'm made up he had a good game the other day and have been one of those still holding out on him turning his fortunes around. Obviously he needs to produce that on a regular basis to give Klopp options during our run in and busy periods. The lad has class and ads something different due to his style of play, and if he can now produce that for us it's a win/win. 

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

He linked up very well with Salah, more of this.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

5 minutes ago, VERBAL DIARRHEA said:

He linked up very well with Salah, more of this.

 

He did the same with Robertson as we looked for width. 

[Rick Sanchez C-137]

He showed far too much quality before us to just wilt away to nothing. If he can stay injury free, he has all the tools to be boss.

[TheHowieLama]

Made up for the fella but not sure there will be an easier game going forward this year -- that includes cups.

Bournemouth literally quit.

[Shitty Arse]

I held off until a few weeks ago from posting how he was too injury prone and had given up hope of him coming good. My plan is coming to fruition and I hope he continues to make me look like a cunt.