Simon Mignolet reveals the surprise inspiration behind his recent improvement…
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had credited his wife Jasmien with helping him rediscover his best form. The 26-year-old admitted that he was struggling to pinpoint what was going wrong until his other half had her say.
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Reports in the Daily Mirror carry quotes from the Belgian stopper, who revealed that he was forced to battle his ‘inner chimp’ after being dropped from the team in favour of long-time number two Brad Jones.
He even spoke to sports shrink Steve Peters about how best to win back his place, prior to a shaky comeback against Burnley on Boxing Day, when he came on a substitute after the Australian picked up an injury.
However, it was a chat with his missus that finally allowed him to let go of his past mistakes. Jasmien helped her hubby realise that he was overanalysing situations – trying to work out the best solution rather than trusting his instincts.
Mignolet has kept five clean sheets in eight league matches since his return, while his performances have also helped Liverpool reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.
He told reporters of his miraculous revival: “My family were over here, and my missus and everyone was having dinner, when Jasmien said, ‘Simon, are you sometimes overthinking stuff?’
“That was the trigger in my mind that I had to sort this out. We have been together since before I was a footballer and she knows me better than anyone. That’s why she said it.
“Probably because of all the things that had happened before, I was looking to find the best-possible solution for situations. What I forget, and the corner I gave away was the best example of that, was avoiding the worst solution, which was to give a corner away.
“Now I try to make a decision rather than thinking about it too much, because then you are doubting what to do, you are losing time and you don’t have that, especially in the Premier League.
“After that I made sure I was more decisive and commanding. I feel I’m now playing better than before I was out of the team.”