Naby Keita: It's special to work with Klopp
Jürgen Klopp's attention to detail makes the Liverpool manager 'really special' to work with, according to Naby Keita.
The Guinea international linked up with the Reds boss for the first time in the summer when his pre-agreed transfer from RB Leipzig was completed.
Keita, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury in recent weeks, has made 10 appearances for the club since his arrival, as Klopp’s men navigated the opening 10 Premier League games without defeat and took top spot at the halfway point of their Champions League group.
As the No.8 works towards a return to fitness, he has opened up on the burgeoning relationship between player and manager.
“It is really special to have him as a coach,” Keita told Premier League Productions.
“He is open, you can talk to him and he’s not there for just one player, he’s there for all of us. He is not focusing on one or another player; he is focusing on all of us. He cares and he looks after all of us. It’s a real pleasure to play for him.”
On his assimilation into the squad and the healthy competition for places in midfield, he continued: “I’m really happy to be able to play with them.
“I’m learning from their experience. I’m training with them and trying to get better; I watch them and the coach of course says, ‘You need to do this, you need to do this.’ That makes me feel like I want to do better, I want to progress. I’m so lucky and happy to train with them.
“The objective is collective, we’re a team. The team’s objective is my objective. I play for the team. Whatever we want to achieve, I’ll achieve with them.”
Mohamed Salah enjoyed a productive week with the winner at Huddersfield Town, two goals against Red Star Belgrade and then one more, plus two assists, during the 4-1 defeat of Cardiff City.
The Egyptian has quickly raced to seven strikes in 2018-19 after his historic haul of 44 last term.
His secret, Keita explained, lies inside Melwood.
“He trains very, very hard,” he said. “Every time I go to the gym, he is there. What is happening at the moment is not just luck, it’s all earned. It’s because he has been training so hard.”