George Priestman speaks to Jurgen Klopp about the form of Jarell Quansah this season and the Liverpool boss claims he is a special player who saved them from buying a new centre-back last summer.
Even though he didn't quite understand what George was saying...
Even though he didn't quite understand what George was saying...
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00:00 I just wanted to ask about Gerrard Kroos' rise,
00:03 he's been absolutely sensational this season,
00:05 he only had that short loan spell last season, which was his first senior experience,
00:10 did you envision that he would risk this season and play as well as he has done,
00:14 because he's been one of the standout young centre-backs in Europe?
00:18 Whatever, no, four years ago I wouldn't have got a word,
00:25 but that means, obviously, from all that you said, you speak really quick.
00:29 So it's fine. But meanwhile, I think it was about Kwanzaa, huh?
00:33 Yes.
00:34 So, I liked him from the first moment I saw him,
00:39 but that means just what the boy offers from a physical point of view,
00:44 when they are really young, 16, 17, 18, that's how long I know him.
00:48 And then...
00:49 I knew he was a good footballer, which is absolutely helpful,
00:54 and not rare nowadays, but it's quite special how calm he is on the ball.
00:59 And it's all about when he's ready for adult football,
01:02 because in that position each challenge is a reality check.
01:07 So you might be the best in your age group, that means first and foremost nothing
01:11 for the adult world in this case, because you have strong opponents,
01:15 they know all the dirt, the dark arts and all these kinds of things,
01:23 how to bring yourself in a better position.
01:25 He's dealing with that, I didn't expect that quick, that's true.
01:29 But the pre-season showed that he was super positive, super positive.
01:35 So we got asked a lot that we have to sign Nussan Dahaf,
01:41 and obviously we were thinking about that as well,
01:45 it's not that we ignore potential issues or whatever,
01:50 but when we saw him it was clear that we will not go for it,
01:55 that we will have our own solution,
01:59 without knowing how much game time we will get already this year.
02:06 And because of the situation and his development,
02:10 he is now a proper, proper part of the squad, a proper part of the rotation thing,
02:17 it's not about performing, they all are good, it's about how you can share intensity.
02:23 And there he plays an important role, and last night again was a really good game.
02:29 The way we play with the last line, I wouldn't call it risky,
02:32 but it's not a normal centre-half game,
02:37 so we have a lot of one-on-one situations,
02:41 a lot of space behind you very often, and we have to be brave,
02:46 and he is really brave in his situation and with the ball as well,
02:50 and has a really good overview and a good technique,
02:53 so it's an interesting package, really excited about it.