MINAMINO
YOU BOTH COME FROM WEST AFRICA, HOW DID YOU HELP
EACH OTHER TO SETTLE IN TO THIS TEAM?
SADIO: When I first heard that Naby was coming to Liverpool I
was really happy for him because I’ve been here for a few years
before, so I know he wouldn’t have any problems or anything
because not only me but the whole team are like a family here
at Liverpool, helping each other.
You do things together which is really important for any new
player from the first day that they’re part of the family, and I
was just really happy for him.
At the same time he made a good choice because, yeah, we
just won the Champions League and were strong in the Premier
League. It was just easy for him!
NABY: I think that Sadio helped me a lot because he’s someone
who likes to help. He is now becoming one of the elder
statesmen here, and he’s somebody who gives me advice,
especially during training where we work together a lot every
day, and that has helped me.
He passes on his experience and he shares that with me so
I’m on the right road with him, and he gives a lot of advice and
I listen to him.
NABY, YOU HAVE SUFFERED WITH INJURIES THIS SEASON –
HAS SADIO HELPED YOU THROUGH IT?
NABY: Of course, the team and the manager have helped me
and my family calls me every day too. I think when you have an
injury it’s never easy, but you have to hope you can keep going
in training and come back stronger.
YOUR ENGLISH IS VERY GOOD, NABY – DO YOU LEARN IT
FROM SADIO?
NABY: Yes, sometimes I understand him more than the other
players.
SADIO: You should say I’m your teacher!
NABY: He is my teacher...sometimes [both laugh].
NABY, WHEN YOU SCORED YOUR FIRST LIVERPOOL GOAL,
SADIO WAS THE FIRST ONE TO RUN TO YOU, SO WILL YOU
DESIGN A SPECIAL CELEBRATION TOGETHER ONE DAY?
NABY: Maybe we’ll win the Premier League in the last game and
we will do an African dance together! But now we’re serious,
we’re not joking – we will be focused for the whole of the
games.