Georginio Wijnaldum believes that Liverpool has a real chance to win the English Football League Cup.
The Dutchman played a well-timed ball through Tottenham’s defence on Tuesday night for Daniel Sturridge to slot through Michel Vorm’s legs to ensure the Reds’ passage to the quarter-finals of the competition.
One of the only regular first teamers on the pitch, Wijnaldum was important for the Reds on Tuesday evening and his underrated ‘behind-the-scenes’ work was important on the night to tidy up some loose play from the likes of Marko Grujic and Ovie Ejaria.
During a post-match interview with Liverpoolfc.com, Wijnaldum was asked whether or not Liverpool is capable of winning the EFL Cup this season.
“It seems like it’s a real chance,” the Dutchman admitted.
“But we must look at it from round to round, and try to win the games to get to the final and then try to win it. It’s an opportunity to win a trophy and we must do everything to achieve that. That’s what we’re going to do.”
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Even though he was speaking before the draw was made, Wijnaldum was confident that Liverpool can progress through the respective stages of the tournament and says that if you’re going to win the cup you have to beat any and everyone.
He said: “It doesn’t matter because if you want to win the cup, you have to beat everyone.
“So it doesn’t matter when or where you play against another team – you have to win it to win the trophy. And to be fair, there are no easy games in the Premier League and the cup.”
Wijnaldum has been hugely important to Liverpool’s winning start to the 2016/17 Premier League season and he was impressed by how Marko Grujic, Kevin Stewart and Ovie Ejaria played on Tuesday.
“You see a lot of young players when they come into the first team and play a big game, they are nervous and you don’t see their quality immediately,” he added.
“I don’t know if they were nervous but it didn’t seem like it. They just played their game and played how they train.
“I was really impressed. It’s not easy for a young player to play in a big game for a big club. A lot of players get nervous and lose confidence, but I didn’t see it in these players.”
Big praise indeed. Klopp clearly values youth development and since his arrival, you can see of Kevin Stewart alone. There is a lot to be excited about where Liverpool is concerned and the youth system is reason enough to get a good buzz going and with rumours that in the next few years the academy and first squad will merge, it can only mean good things for squad chemistry and youth promotion.
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