Hertha Berlin manager Pal Dardai has heaped praise on Liverpool loan star Marko Grujic, suggesting that he has never worked with a player like him before.
The 22-year-old Serbian has struggled with injuries so far this season, making only eight appearances in the Bundesliga, but has still managed to impress his temporary boss.
Speaking to Hungarian outlet Index, Dardai said: “This is the first time in my life when I didn’t have to settle with the middle shelf of the supermarket, instead I was able reach the top shelf.
“This is the first time I have a player like him, unfortunately only on loan from Liverpool.
“If he doesn’t do anything, he still makes all the others calm with his presence. You know, he provides stability.
“When he did not play, it affected all the others. We missed him in the middle of the park. We can have a good spring if he’s healthy.”
OPINION
This is really positive news for Liverpool fans. The whole point of a loan is for a player to go out, learn the game, and grow and develop. It certainly sounds like Grujic is doing just that, and at 22 he still has plenty of time to come back to Merseyside and stake a decent claim for a place in Jurgen Klopp’s plans. The young man has struggled with injuries, but when he has played he has been top quality. His stats aren’t standout – just one goal and no assists in eight matches – but the difference he makes to the Hertha Berlin midfield is profound. Without him they average 0.7 points per game, with him they average 2.4. Sometimes in England there is an obsession with hard numbers, goal involvements in particular, but most of the time that only tells half of the story. Grujic influences matches week after week when he is fit, but it doesn’t immediately appear as if he does on paper. Hopefully Jurgen Klopp will be taking notice of the bright young talent.
