Firmino eyes being key player for Liverpool
London, Sep 16 (IANS) English football club Liverpool’s Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino hopes to become his team’s key player under German coach Jurgen Klopp — but admits that fulfilling that ambition is squarely upon him
The Brazilian attacker has enjoyed a close relationship with Klopp since the German’s arrival at the club in October 2015.
And he is keen to take the next step in his career under the 49-year-old, who played a key role in the development of stars such as Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze and Marco Reus at German club Borussia Dortmund.
“I played against Klopp’s teams for four-and-a-half years in the Bundesliga,” former Hoffenheim forward Firmino told The Daily Mail on Thursday.
“I know what he wants from a player. When I heard that he was coming to be Liverpool manager, I was so pleased. I could not have been happier. I knew what he was going to bring here. He brought a style of work and play from Germany and the team has adapted to it.”
“Our friendship is crystal clear. There is nothing behind it. He is a great person. If you do what he asks you to do, you will never let him down. Can he make me the Neymar of Liverpool? It all depends on me.”
“He wants each of us to be like a runner. Don’t stop. Never stop. Keep going. That is the way it is for him and that is the way I like to play. You always have to be in motion,” he added.
“It comes easy to me to run. I picked a lot of it up from Germany. I had four-and-a-half years there and I learned you have to be on the go under him.”
Firmino, 24, has netted three goals in five appearances in all competitions this campaign. He scored 11 times for Liverpool last season.