Emre Can has told Brendan Rodgers that he wants to be treated as a midfielder next season, after spending the vast majority of the 2014-15 campaign playing in defence – both as a third centre-back and as a right full-back.
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The German believes that he “can take the responsibility of replacing Steven Gerrard” next season, with our outgoing captain leaving a substantial hole for us to fill in our midfield.
Gerrard joins LA Galaxy next month, following the expiry of his Liverpool contract, and Brendan Rodgers and co are thought to be on the lookout for potential replacements.
Thankfully, Can believes he’s more than qualified to make the step-up. The 21-year-old, who joined us from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, insists he could play “any” role in either a diamond or at the centre of our 3-4-2-1.
In quotes taken by the Daily Mirror, he said: “[Rodgers] talks all the time with me. He sees me as a midfield player and I hope next year to be playing in midfield.
“Of course he talks with me every day and says what I can do better. He helps my game. He wants to play football and that’s what I want. That’s why I came to Liverpool. I want to play in midfield and I can take the responsibility [of replacing Gerrard].”
Can was then asked to look back on his first year in England. The youngster was extremely positive, despite a difficult season for the team as a whole, and confirmed that he was loving the challenge.
“It was a big move of course, because it was the first time that I [left] Germany,” he added. “It wasn’t easy because I didn’t speak the language so well but now I’ve improved my English it’s a little bit better.
“In the Premier League every game is a tough game and the bottom team can win against the top team. It’s a lot stronger and faster. For me this is good because I don’t like it if the ref is giving everything as a foul.
“Me, I try to give my everything in every game and give 100%. That’s what the fans see and it’s a big honour for me that they love me and I love them – they’re great fans.”