There seemed no way back for Naby Keita the last time Liverpool lined up in the Champions League quarter-final. The Guinean suffered the ignominy of being replaced three minutes before half-time at Real Madrid after the Reds had shipped two goals in their first leg in Spain, a deficit from which they were unable to recover. When asked whether his time at Liverpool has made him a better player, the answer strikes at the heart of why Keita remains such an enigma.
Naby Keita said: “We can’t really say that for the moment because I don’t believe we’ve seen the real Naby Keita just yet. I’ve had quite a few injuries so I’m trying to come back gradually to full form and fitness. The coach is trying to do that with me too. And it’s my aim to try and establish myself and be seen in the world of football and I guess we’ll see how that goes, either this season or the next. Getting regular games is something that motivates me even more. It’s great to know when you’re playing to not have the worry of getting injured. It hasn’t always been easy in the past because when you are on the way back, you try to be a bit more careful at first. but recently I’ve felt like I’m 100% full-out and hopefully I can continue like that.”
Injuries have been the curse of Keita’s Liverpool career, the 27-year-old having suffered four different problems this season alone. Nevertheless, his tally of 25 games so far is only eight off his best total while with the Reds, achieved during his debut campaign in 2018/19.
