Adrian explained why he didn’t hesitate to sign a contract extension with Liverpool to remain a savvy and important figure in the dressing room.
The Spanish goalkeeper signed the deal late last month to extend his stay with the Reds, which began in the summer of 2019.
Now entering his fifth season at the club, Adrian is enjoying his role of supporting team members on and off the pitch, whilst making sure he is ready for every opportunity that comes his way. Jürgen Klopp.
Liverpoolfc.com sat down with the 36-year-old on day three of the squad’s preparations for 2023/24 – read on to see what he had to say…
The manager was very happy to keep you here for another year – how happy were you with that contract extension? Honestly, I’m happy to stay here and continue to be a part of this great football club.
From the very beginning, when I arrived in 2019, the club, the fans and the coach all spread their arms saying, “This is your new home.” Yes, this is my new home. Ultimately, we need competition in selection.
As I always say, the competition makes us better and we have a good group of goalkeepers with the goalkeeping coach, the youngsters, it’s a good mix.
We are also good friends. So that’s the most important thing – to be close to each other and to support each other in these difficult times. As soon as the club informed me of this option, I had nothing to think about and of course I just had to put pen to paper and sign it.
You are behind two top goalkeepers whom you have helped to reach the level they have reached in recent years. How do you see your role at Liverpool now?
Sometimes in life you have another job and you need to switch roles. In a football career, you start playing a role like when you are younger, you cheer, you learn more things.
Of course there are many games, many competitions. The club needs competitive players on the pitch and players who are ready to go, and I’m one of them.
From the beginning I’ve tried to be supportive in the dressing room, show the level clearly when I can and show my experience with young players, try to talk to them during training or when we’re away.
I always learn at the end of the day. I’m 36 now, but I’m still learning. I feel as fresh and ready as ever. I look forward to working with the same group again with John [Achterberg], Jack [Robinson] and Taffa [Claudio Taffarel]. We have a good group of goalkeepers and we support each other.
How do you see the position of Alisson Becker? He was great last season. Has it improved year after year?
This is the hardest part of football because modern football certainly has no memories and you only remember the last game. Now let’s start again.
Clearly, Ali had a huge impact on the team last season – but also the previous one.
He is progressing, he always feels confident, he trains very well. He is one of the top five goalkeepers in the world, I would say. The goalkeeper position is so difficult because you have to maintain that level.
It’s not just good because you played a good game or made some good saves; the next game you can make a mistake and of course everyone remembers that.
In the end, Ali is a very good goalkeeper and he does well. Of course, we hope that he will definitely maintain this level. We will attack hard from behind – me, Caoimhin [Kelleher], the youngsters – to keep him level.
You have already talked about your age, but your experience can be crucial in helping these new players to settle into this culture and also to build a new culture…
Certainly. Obviously, with the departure of Millie, I am now the most experienced player in the locker room.
I also have this role. I try to help young people. We also have a big Latin American group, so I’m trying to help them settle in as quickly as possible – just like Darwin [Nunez] is learning English and Luis [Diaz] is also improving.
We are like a family. We have to help each other to adapt as quickly as possible, play and perform as well as possible. I am one of those team players who try to help and I am ready to seize any opportunity.
You’re close to Darwin – how excited is he for the new season?
He can’t wait to start scoring again, he’s looking forward to the first friendly and playing and scoring goals.
I think he helped [us] a lot last season, but I think this second season will be quieter for him. He has the experience of the first [season] now and also had to learn a lot because he is very young – but I think he can help us a lot.
