Academy'I don't think anyone bats an eyelid if Quansah or Bradley start now'
Barry Lewtas has shared the collective Academy pride at seeing youngsters Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley shine at senior level this season.
The U21s head coach has taken huge satisfaction watching the duo being trusted by manager Jürgen Klopp to perform on the highest stage.
“It’s great for us as an academy because it shows the value of these games, boys who have played here and being part of what we’ve tried to do in terms of the work and the work that they have put in,” Lewtas told Liverpoolfc.com.
“It’s been an unbelievable season. These boys are playing in massive games, they aren’t just coming on to finish a game off, they are starting in games.
“I don’t think people really bat an eyelid now if Jarell or Conor are starting. That is pretty remarkable really.”
Lewtas was speaking after seeing his U21s side produce an excellent performance in a 3-1 Premier League 2 win over Stoke City at the Academy on Sunday afternoon.
Lewis Koumas netted twice to take his tally to 15 goals for the season and defender Amara Nallo scored his first goal for the club since his transfer from West Ham United.
Read on as Lewtas reflects on a positive afternoon for his team and more…
On a deserved win for the U21s against Stoke…
First half, I thought we were brilliant. We conceded a bit of a sloppy goal, but I don’t think there was any need to overreact and I don’t think the players did. We just needed to find our rhythm and I thought our solutions, the way we played and the way we played through was good.
We got a deserved equaliser, a fantastic goal, and we started the second half in the same way and got our goal. It was a tough second half, a bit stop-start, but in the end I thought we showed a real mature side of us to get the job done. We played some fantastic football.
On Kaide Gordon getting stronger with each game he plays…
Kaide was brilliant. Just when I thought he was tiring towards the end of the game he made a massive run into the box to defend. He was sparkling out there! Listen, not to single anyone out because I thought we as a team were good, but he was brilliant first half in between the lines. The way we set up really suited him as well, just playing a little bit more inside the pitch and showing a different side to his game and dribbling centrally. His work-rate has been brilliant, we showed the lads a video of our game against Fulham and Kaide was doing similar things.
Let’s hope he can continue in this way because you’ve got to remember Kaide has been out for such a long while. Everyone is talking about Koumas and [Jayden] Danns but Kaide is like an old-timer now despite the fact he is only 19 himself. He’s still got much more to come but more games like that and more rhythm, he will soon be back to where he wants to be.
On the influence of James McConnell as the No.6…
He was brilliant. As a No.6 I feel this season he has grown, he has definitely got taller! I think he has grown as a person, his game understanding has always been good but obviously we are asking him to play a little bit deeper now. I thought he was excellent.
On Koumas being in rich goalscoring form…
He is scoring for fun! I’ve got to mention the two passes for his goals. The first, Calum Scanlon, and then Jayden Danns’ pass, they deserved to be finished. He took his goals ever so well.
The runs in behind he makes, I wouldn’t want to play against him. He gives us a real outlet as well in terms of his runs, the way he competes and the way he dribbles. There were a few nice moments where he was bringing Bobby Clark in, so I thought Lewis was excellent.
