Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has lifted the lid on the ‘big step’ that Reds midfielder Naby Keita has made in recent times.
The Guinea international is closing in on concerted return to the first team after featuring against MK Dons last Wednesday, and Klopp believes he is making great progress both on and off the pitch.
“The last talk I had with him was in English and it looked like he understood what I said,” he said, as per the Liverpool Echo. “That is a big step. He is here long enough now. It was a big step for him to come here from Leipzig with big expectations, and hopefully you all still remember how good he started.
“He is a smart boy so football-wise it is not a problem. The tactical things are obvious, they are clear, and he was in pre-season with us so he has done all the important stuff. But understanding the language helps massively.”
OPINION
There’s no doubt that Keita learning English will be a big boost for him moving forward. The former RB Leipzig man arrived with big expectations last summer, but failed to really settle and has endured a number of niggling injuries which have slowed his progress. However, he is now working his way back to 100%, and has seemingly been doing the hard yards off the pitch as well. The midfielder, on a reported £120,000-per-week at the club [Source: Spotrac], will obviously be able to understand Klopp’s instructions and the tactical details that he’s putting across a lot better if he can hear it directly, rather than having it translated to him. Furthermore, having a common language with the majority of the Reds squad will enable Keita to form more of a bond with them, which should help improve his performances as well. So, as Klopp says, this was a really big step in the right direction for the 24-year-old.
