MINAMINOHOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH JÜRGEN KLOPP AND HOW DO YOU THINK HE WILL
INFLUENCE YOUR GAME TO IMPROVE MORE?
I’m looking forward to working with Jürgen Klopp. I think one
of my strengths will be to be able to communicate with him
in German – because I speak a bit of German – and I’m really
looking forward to it. I think he is one of the best managers in
the world and I always want to improve myself, so it would be
great if I could make a contribution to the growth of the team
and myself.
YOU’VE BECOME USED TO WINNING AT SALZBURG – DO YOU
SEE THAT MENTALITY IN YOUR NEW TEAM-MATES?
I think they do have it. Liverpool are a [top] Premier League
team and they won the Champions League last year. I think the
team has the same winning mentality, they know how to fight.
In that regard, I would like to soak up some of their mentality.
YOU’RE ON TRACK FOR YOUR BEST EVER GOALSCORING
SEASON – HOW MUCH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT DO YOU
STILL HAVE?
I’m an offensive player so I always want to assist and score
goals. I would like to maintain that quality and the number of
situations that directly lead to more goals and assists. I think
that is my strength, so I would like to show that strength of
mine in this team.YOU GOT YOUR FIRST GAME UNDER YOUR BELT IN THE FA
CUP – NOW WHAT ARE YOUR TARGETS AND AMBITIONS FOR
YOUR FUTURE TIME WITH LIVERPOOL?
To win the Premier League and the Champions League, and to
make good contributions to the team. That is my target. I would
like to make good contributions to goals, assists and wins for
the team. I’m looking forward to sharing the excitement with
the fans.“This is fabulous news – a wonderful signing. We are really,
really happy about this. Our supporters have had the chance
to see him close up recently so I don’t need to sing too
loudly about his qualities as they are already known.
“Takumi is a very quick, very clever player, he finds space
between the lines. He is brave with the ball but also brave
without the ball – a proper team player. He makes the best of
himself for the benefit of others.
“His Champions League experience is a big bonus and
coming from the club and organisation he does, we know
he’ll be well coached, used to an elite environment and had
all the right experiences. It is fantastic work by our football
operations team in how they’ve handled this transfer. Michael
Edwards and the team deserve a lot of credit.
“It’s not hard to see why Salzburg is a favoured destination
for players with real talent and hunger. From our experiences
dealing with, and facing, Salzburg on and off the pitch in
recent months, their reputation as a benchmark modern
European club will only grow.
“I’m sure all the Liverpool supporters will go out of their way
to make Takumi feel at home in our amazing city and club.
I am also pretty sure that as of now we have added to our
numbers of the LFC family in Japan specifically.
“For those who follow us now because we have one of the
country’s most exciting talents, I say welcome – it’s a special
club to be part of.”
He’s settled quickly into the goalkeepers union at Melwood.
“We have a very good group and they have helped me feelwelcome. All
the goalies
are great –
they are all
magnificent
people
with John
[Achterberg], the
goalkeeper coach,
his assistant Jack
[Robinson] and all
the guys including the
younger keepers.
“We need to feel that good
atmosphere when we are training because we spend a long
time together, often training apart from the rest of the team.
So we have many situations where we are training alone
together and I think having this spirit is a positive thing. We are
trying to push each other all the time.”
Adrian had only trained for three days before making his
bow against Norwich and admits it will take a little while
longer for him to become fully integrated into the Liverpool
line-up.
“You get the confidence with time. The Super Cup gave me a
lot of confidence because when you win you get that positive
feeling, so it’s great for everyone.
“Hopefully I can keep taking steps forwards, gain more
confidence and keep helping the team.”KLOPP ON MINAMINO