Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho has claimed that he has been receiving some one-to-one coaching sessions with Jurgen Klopp.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Carvalho said that he’s had some personal training from Klopp on his pressing since arriving at the club.
“I’ve probably been working most with the manager and the coaches on the defensive side of my game because they already know what I can bring offensively,” said the 20-year-old. “So, I’ve been working with the manager, the coaches and the analysis guys and it’s been about where to be and when I need to press because we’re such a pressing team. It’s just being able to recognise who to press, when to press and how to press.
Carvalho also touched on what he sees as being his preferred position in the Liverpool set-up.
“I’d say my preferred position is either on the left-hand side or maybe in the middle of the park as a 10 but we don’t really play with a 10 here,” he explained. “Probably the position change has been the biggest difference to last season because I’ve been playing more on the left here at Liverpool and at Fulham I was playing more centrally and obviously I had (Aleksandar) Mitrovic to play from.
“When we play a 4-4-2 and I play behind a striker – whether it’s Bobby or Darwin – that will probably fit me more, but we’ll see what happens. That system can be fluid because we often have Bobby who is behind either Mo or Darwin, and he can come into the pocket. And you have the two wingers who also come in and so it’s fluid because everyone keeps moving.”
Carvalho still settling in at Liverpool
In Carvalho’s short time at Liverpool so far, we have seen glimpses of what he can do. The young Portuguese has had some real standout moments, such as his late winner against Newcastle United.
But by and large, we probably haven’t seen the best of him just yet. That’s understandable – he is only twenty after all.
Older, and probably better, players than he have taken longer to settle into the demands of playing for Jurgen Klopp.
As Carvalho finds his rhythm at the club, he will surely turn out to be a great fit. But for the moment, patience should be exercised.
The youngster is obviously aware that Liverpool don’t necessarily cater for the position he wants to play in. In that respect, you have to commend his attitude.
Instead of moaning or sulking, Carvalho has clearly been putting in the hard yards on the training pitch.
That’s something that Klopp will surely notice. As he looks to assert himself into the first team over the long-term, this will no doubt serve him well. Keep working hard, Fabio.
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