Ibrahima Konate says James Milner did something he’d never seen before at Liverpool

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Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has praised James Milner for his leadership whilst at the club.

Milner has played his last game for Liverpool and will officially leave when his contract expires at the end of the month. Over eight years as vice-captain, the 37-year-old earned plenty of admirers within the Reds squad.

One of those was obviously Konate. Asked by RMC Sport about learning from leaders like Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool, the Frenchman put forward another name who’s been so influential to his development at Anfield.

“Of course [he learns from Van Dijk]. I also had the chance to be with James Milner, who is leaving us this season. He was really the leader, the big boss. I’ve never seen that in my life, it was amazing!” raved the 24-year-old.

“I learned a lot from him. In England, I would like to have this leadership side, but there is the language barrier… Sometimes I want to say sentences but my English is not perfect enough to get out certain sentences at the right time. Whereas he (Milner), sometimes he takes you out of phases, he’s next to me and I’m like… (he cuts) anyway, I’m not going to say the word! (laughs).”

Liverpool lose Milner leadership

If Liverpool needed any clarification on just what they’re losing by letting Milner walk out of the door, then Ibou has just given it to them.

To mention the Yorkshireman, unprompted, during an interview back in France, really does tell its own story. Milner was truly the ‘big boss’ at Liverpool.

Just how they’re going to replace that remains to be seen. Van Dijk will step into the vice-captain role and the Dutchman has plenty of experience in being a leader.

Not only has he skippered the Reds on countless occasions over the last couple of years, he also wears the armband for the Netherlands. It won’t be a big jump.

But Virgil and Milner are very different characters. As seen by their on-field spat at Old Trafford last year, the two have quite opposing leadership styles.

Milner is your old-school up-and-at-em type who will actively call out his teammates relentlessly. Van Dijk is the calmer, lead-by-example captain who you rarely see lose his cool on or off the pitch.

That isn’t to say Virgil can’t fill Milly’s shoes to a degree, but the former Reds No.7 is one-of-a-kind. We’ll certainly feel the impact of losing the influence he’s had on the likes of Konate. But, onwards, it was probably time.