Press conferenceCody Gakpo Q&A: Goals, Real Madrid, UCL excitement and more

The Netherlands forward, a January signing from PSV Eindhoven, heads into Tuesday’s last-16 first leg at Anfield having scored in back-to-back wins over Everton and Newcastle United.

Ahead of the tie, Gakpo spoke with the media during Monday’s pre-match press conference. Read a summary below.

On the impact that scoring in his last two games has made on his confidence and his settling into the club…

Yeah, of course it’s a great feeling to score the first goal knowing it was a really important game for us and it was a Merseyside derby, so yeah, that was a good way to open the scoring account. And then to follow it up with the goal against Newcastle, I think that game was really important for us to show that we had a difficult period but that we are climbing back from that and that we are eager to perform and to keep doing better.

On how ready he feels to face Real Madrid and the talk in the dressing room ahead of the tie given the recent history between the clubs…

I think as a team, we are ready. We want to perform in this game, we want to win, especially at home. We want to go through to the next round so we have to be ready and I think everybody also wants to be ready. I think we are ready for it.

On the belief within the squad…

What I just said before, we had a difficult period but then we won two games in a row and then it’s normal that the confidence is coming back. I think we are really confident now and will keep working hard and trying to improve and keep winning games.

On whether there is a different feeling around the club after back-to-back victories…

Yeah, I think it’s normal. When you’re a football player you want to win games and if that’s not happening there’s another atmosphere [compared to] if you win games. So of course when you start winning games there will be a different atmosphere, but we just try to keep positive and try to improve in every aspect we can and keep getting good results.

On whether there has been an added intensity in the last two performances…

Yes, I think the games we won we played a better game than the games before, and then the result is the outcome of maybe the more intensity we had in the game and stuff like that. But it’s on us now to keep that intensity to keep winning the games.

On there being a lot at stake in the first leg…

Yeah, it’s the knockout phase so there’s a lot at stake. But we want to prove and we want to show that we are a good team and that we are there again, so we have to perform in this game and try to win it at home and try to win it away.

On how his teammates have helped him to settle in…

To be honest, my teammates are amazing. From day one they helped me to settle in as quickly as possible. The whole club is amazing, everybody is nice to me, trying to help me in every way they can and I’m really grateful for that.

On how he is feeling about playing in the Champions League…

It’s going to be my second game in the Champions League so I’m really looking forward to it. I have to prove that I can perform at such a level again and I’m eager to do that.

On what has changed in the time he has been at the club and whether the team are doing anything differently…

I think it’s difficult to put a finger on something that has really changed, but I think everybody knows when you’re not really winning the games it’s difficult. But as a newcomer, I sense the group is really good, we come together and we are trying to stay together in difficult moments and I think that’s one of the strengths of this team. From there you know that you are going to win some games – we won two in a row now and we have to keep working hard and keep improving a lot of things to keep winning the games.

On the appeal of playing in the Champions League…

I think this is one of the biggest competitions in Europe and the world. It’s a dream for every football player to play in this competition and for me to have that opportunity, it’s a great one. But we have to focus on the game and not think about that, so try to perform and to do our best.

On how Jürgen Klopp has managed the squad during their tough spell…

What I said before, when it’s difficult then a real team is showing up and I think this is one of the teams. We really stick together and even though it was difficult, we tried to stay positive, tried to keep helping each other in difficult moments and in the end that will result in better things. I think just in time we started winning games again and now we have a big opportunity to show that we are back on track.

On his conversations with Klopp about his role in the team and what he believes to be his best position…

Obviously I played, I think, the last three years on the left side but at the World Cup and under Louis van Gaal I played already in the centre so I already tried to adapt to that and when I came here, I spoke to the coach and he said it’s possible to play on the left or in the centre. I started playing in the centre so I try to adapt to that position as quickly as possible and improve and try to do my best.