Ibrahim Konate
Given the dire state of proceedings at the turn of 2021 and the swiftness at which his transfer was concluded – Liverpool actually confirmed Konate before last season had finished – it would not be unreasonable to assume that overtures were made to Leipzig for Konate long before he was officially confirmed as a Reds player.
Ibrahim Konate said: “I really don’t recall if there were any enquiries made about me moving in January. At the time there was no clause in my contract which would have allowed me to leave Leipzig under any circumstances. As far as I remember it was some months after [January] that discussions about leaving were undertaken, and that led to me moving here. Never at any moment in my life could I have imagined this. I knew I was joining a very big club, a club that has set out to win things, titles and trophies. But this season has been exceptional, a historic one for the club and it’s hard to put into words. It’s super exciting to be a part of.”
Now, the German wrestles mainly with just two combinations: Virgil van Dijk and one other from Matip or Konate. The big decision, then, is just who gets the nod at Wembley against Chelsea on Saturday? Konate was given the shirt for the FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City last month, while it was Matip who was selected alongside Van Dijk for the Carabao Cup final at the end of February. Decisions, decisions.
Ibrahim Konate says: “My expectation was to come here and work. The club has a very strong work ethic. Of course I’m very happy to be playing in these big matches which are coming up so frequently. The coach has placed a lot of trust in me and I’m very happy about that. The thing now is to continue putting in good performances and hopefully get the wins.”
The peerless Van Dijk has been back to his best this season following that damaging ACL injury suffered at Everton in October 2020 and the Dutchman’s reassuring presence has been a key factor behind the ongoing push for honours. The Netherlands captain has also been a big help to Konate in settling in following his big move to the Premier League.
Ibrahim Konate said: “I think it’s the whole team who defend, to be honest. It’s not just the back four. The midfield and even the attackers, they all have a role to play in allowing us to do what we do. We can only defend with that level of support from up front. Virgil, he gives me some advice for big games, but he also has this quality where we have this great relationship, and he allows me to decide in each match, to make decisions. He lets me play to my own qualities, and I think that is a very good aspect of his leadership.”
Konate will not turn 23 until the week of the Champions League final, which neatly falls in his hometown of Paris, but an impressive first year for him at Anfield is threatening to turn into a legendary one for the collective as they continue their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple. Manchester City’s need for just four points from the final six on offer undoubtedly puts them in the driving seat as far as the Premier League title goes, but destiny remains firmly in Liverpool’s own hands where the FA Cup and Champions League are concerned.
Ibrahim Konate added: “Of course I’m very excited. The whole team is. The FA Cup final is a huge event. One goal might be enough, whether it’s me who scores it or somebody else, it doesn’t bother me either way. The most important thing is to go and win, then come back to Liverpool and celebrate a great victory.”
