On the importance of having Alexander Isak back following news of Hugo Ekitike’s injury…
First of all, it’s at least a good thing we’ve signed two No.9s because there were a lot of people who were debating why we signed two No.9s. We thought maybe it’s a smart idea not to be the only club in the world that only has one No.9, so that’s why we signed two. Now all of a sudden, that looks maybe quite good and maybe, maybe – I don’t know – people are questioning now if we should sign in the summer another No.9. Someone said to me the day after (PSG), you cannot write the script that on the day that Alex is back after four months of injuries, first start, the same day the other one leaves the pitch with a long-term injury.
It’s a good thing Alex is back now even more, of course, although it wouldn’t be the first game that I have to play without a particular type in a particular position; I’ve had many games this season I didn’t have the right full-back available, for example. So, we would have adjusted to that as well, but it’s nice to have Alex back, although we also know that he’s not ready to play 90 yet.
On whether Liverpool’s remaining fixtures are a ‘mini-league’…
Every team is, of course, focused on the positions around them. So, if you are at the bottom end of the table, you play a mini-league against a team that could go out of the league. And of course, our focus now is definitely not on Arsenal, it’s on the teams around us when it comes to playing a mini-league. But our main focus is on the first game at hand and that’s Everton.
On whether the intensity of the PSG game could have an impact at Everton…
I don’t think it can affect that because there are more than a few days in between and it did not even affect us, the Fulham game affected us by being as intense as we were against Paris Saint-Germain. Of course, I have to factor the Anfield factor in because there might be people who think, ‘Why didn’t you play like this away from home?’ Now that’s a bit more complicated than people might think.
The fans play a big part if you want to go as aggressive as we were and taking the risk as we did. We took the same risk in Paris but then they were five or six times in front of our goalkeeper and now we could keep them away from our goal in large parts of the game. So no, being tired has no influence on the game on Sunday.
On getting Isak back up to full fitness as quickly as possible…
Very important. Although there are also other players that can fill in that position, but those players have played in different positions throughout their lives more and more. Cody (Gakpo) did really well when he came in in the second half (against PSG). Of course, it’s important.
You don’t get it like that, but the best thing (would be) that Hugo was still fit, but if he wasn’t, then if this would have happened then two or three weeks later would have been better because Alex is not ready for 90 yet – depending on the intensity of the game, by the way, because you never know how a game is going to work out. He’s getting closer and closer and now we need him but there are different options to play as a No.9 as well. Federico Chiesa is also one of them so there are different options, but it’s definitely good to have Alex back now Hugo is injured.
