Jurgen Klopp has been hugely impressed by the performances of a number of our academy stars this summer, but insists that we must be patient with them and make sure they are not rushed into action, as reported by the Echo.
Ben Woodburn in particular has been outstanding, and despite being just 16-years-old he’s been scoring, assisting, and generally playing like a far more experienced star.
Plenty of Liverpool fans understandably want to see more of him, but Klopp clearly believes he’s far from ready for the first team.
While we’ve always had a fantastic academy, we haven’t seen this level of promise from players this young in a while. The German manager would love to take credit for their development, but insists it’s nothing to do with his influence.
“It’s the proof of the good work of the youth department, of the Academy of LFC,” he said.
“I need to be blind not to see the talent of these boys – I have nothing to do with their qualities. I would like to say I have had a big influence on them, but it’s not true.
“My biggest skill is I am patient, so I can wait and we will wait until these guys are really ready. It’s about timing, but they are in a good way and we will never forget them – that’s for sure.
“It’s not that we have them and use them now in the pre-season and then never think about them. They are in our books for sure and we will do everything so that when they are old enough, they will be good enough.”
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Once they are a bit older and they’re able to get involved with the senior team a little more the manager will certainly have more of an influence, and hopefully we’ll see all of them breaking into the senior side sooner rather than later.