Naby Keita has opened up on his time at Liverpool, sharing insights into his relationship with Jurgen Klopp, his enduring support for the Reds, and his perspective on the differences between the Bundesliga and Premier League.
The Guinean midfielder described Klopp as “one of the most important managers in the history of football” and spoke warmly about the impact the Liverpool manager has had on him personally and professionally.
Everybody sees his passion when he’s on the touchline, but he’s a very emotional and sensible person too.
Recalling his early days at Anfield, Keita said that Klopp's words had a lasting effect.
I remember when I first joined Liverpool, he told me: ‘Naby, you’re here finally and you’ve earned it. I want you to enjoy it and won’t put any pressure on you – the most important thing is for you to enjoy your time.’ For me, that always made me want to go out there and play my best for him.
Keita, who is currently plying his trade in Hungary after a challenging period marked by injuries, revealed that he remains a devoted Liverpool fan.
Now I’m a Liverpool fan and I follow the team, so last season was obviously very good, and it was very nice to see them win the league.
On the arrival of a new manager at Anfield, Keita was optimistic.
The new manager has come in and instantly been able to get the best out of the team – he’s been able to get his ideas across easily and early, which is a very good thing. I still speak to a lot of my teammates and they say that the new manager is very good, which is easy to believe given how they’re performing.
Reflecting on his career across different leagues, Keita compared the Bundesliga and the Premier League.
I think they are similar in the way that they both like players who are very quick and fast. There is a high technical level required to succeed in both leagues, which is something I really like.
Keita admitted that injuries had hampered his contributions in recent seasons.
I have had a lot of injuries in the last year and couldn’t give a lot to Bremen last season, but I’m happy I’m getting games here in Hungary and beginning to enjoy it all again.
While the midfielder’s career has faced setbacks, his words suggest a determination to rediscover his form and passion for the game, buoyed by the inspiration of Klopp and an enduring connection to Liverpool.
