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BSP-15
FBL-ENG-PR-GUI-LIVERPOOL-KEITA
Liverpool’s Keita admits it will take time to be at his best
LONDON, Sept 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita says it
will take time to justify the o52 million ($63 million) fee the club paid for
the Guinea international.
The 23-year-old — who is expected to start this weekend’s match with
Tottenham Hotspur despite being left on the bench for Liverpool’s previous
clash with Leicester City — told the Liverpool club magazine that having
come from the Bundesliga it is only normal that it is taking him him time to
acclimatise to the Premier League.
Keita was snapped up by Liverpool last year from RB Leipzig but with the
condition he remained with the German side until this season.
“I’ve been told by many people that a lot of overseas players come into the
Premier League and they take time to integrate, depending on the
circumstances,” he said.
“So playing in the Premier League can be difficult, but I am very motivated
to play here, not just for myself and my teammates, but for the club.
“Everybody around me has been very supportive towards me so I am certainly
giving everything I can to get settled into the team quickly.”
Keita, who has a lot of added pressure on him as he is the most expensive
midfielder ever signed by the club, says his attitude has always been to push
to improve no matter the plaudits he receives for his performances.
“I’m the kind of person who thinks that if I score eight goals in one
season my objective must be to score nine goals in the following season,” he
said.
“That’s the kind of mentality I have.
“The Premier League is different to other leagues where I have played and
everybody knows it is very tough, but I will do my best to beat my own
personal records — I’m very motivated.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/1523 hrs