Pick that one outINTERVIEWbecome the tenth Brazilian to make 150 appearances in the
Premier League. His impact has seen him described by many
respected analysts as the best ever Brazilian to play in the top-
tier of English football.
When this is suggested to him, he responds by paying tribute
to two compatriots who helped him settle on these shores. “Of
course I like to receive praise, it’s an honour, but I want to be
constantly growing so the praise stays around forever.
“When I arrived here [Philippe] Coutinho helped me a lot. We
know he’s a great player with a great career in world football.
He was one of the players that helped me, together with
Lucas Leiva. The two of them inspired me because they
supported me so much so I owe a lot to them.”
The past decade has seen Firmino come a long way from
the teenager making his way with Brazilian Serie B outfit
Figueirense but he says his formative experiences have also
been key to shaping him become the man and player he is
today.
“My childhood was well-spent. I played out a lot, playing a lot
of football. I did everything, flying kites, playing with spinning
tops, playing with friends. My dad was a street vendor and he
sold coconut water, soft drinks and water at matches.
“The stadium was about a two or three minute walk away
from where we lived. I used to help him sometimes and I
thought it was great. I’ve got good memories of my childhood.”
South American clubs have a great tradition in the Club
World Cup with three of them – Flamengo, Independiente and
Sao Paulo – thwarting Liverpool’s attempts to get their hands
on the trophy.I ALWAYS WANT TO
BE THERE COMPETING
AND CONTRIBUTING
WHEREVER WE CAN
TO WIN TROPHIES,
I JUST WANT TO KEEP
WINNING WITH
THIS CLUB