'He's perfect for Jürgen Klopp' - Kostas Tsimikas analysis
Kostas Tsimikas has the ideal mix of talent and personality to make his move to Liverpool a success.
That is the assessment of Giannis Chorianopoulos, editor in chief of Greek sports newspaper Sportime, who joined LFCTV’s Extra Time show this week to discuss Tsimikas’ transfer to the Reds.
The 24-year-old left-back completed his move from Olympiacos on Monday evening after a standout campaign that saw him make 46 appearances in all competitions and win the domestic title.
Chorianopoulos has tracked Tsimikas’ progress in recent seasons and expects the Greece international to make a smooth transition to the Premier League champions.
“He is ready to make this step,” he said.
“Of course, we have to see what will happen this season. Tsimikas was improving his game all these years. He was at the Olympiacos academy. After that he went on loan in Denmark and the Netherlands. He came back, he played a lot of matches two seasons ago, also in the Europa League.
“The big bang was this season, he played over 40 games – games against top opponents: big clubs like Tottenham, Arsenal, Wolves, Bayern Munich. We saw a few days ago he played against one of the best wingers in the league, Adama Traore, and he didn’t have so many problems.
“I think he is ready to be part of Liverpool’s team. Of course, he will only have advantages from that; he will train with the best, he will train with Andy Robertson, with Liverpool’s defence, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold. He’s not so much experienced but he will have experience more and more by Liverpool’s daily programme.
“I was pretty sure he would have a big step – Liverpool is another step, another level. He improved his game the last two seasons, it was exceptional what we saw.
“Of course, we cannot compare the Premier League with the Greek league, it’s something totally different. But Tsimikas showed a lot of his skills in Champions League matches and Europa League matches.”
Tsimikas played 16 games in Europe in 2019-20, including 12 Champions League starts, in addition to helping Olympiacos surge to the Greek Super League title with only one defeat and 16 goals conceded.
His forthcoming challenge will be to compete and support Andy Robertson for the Reds’ left-back role – and Chorianopoulos spoke of Tsimikas’ suitability for the situation.
“Andy Robertson is the best left-back in the world, so you have to wait. You have to add things to your game,” he said.
“I think Tsimikas is ready to wait; one of his main skills, I think the biggest advantage that this player has, is that he’s a manager’s player. Tsimikas is ready to do whatever Klopp wants to do.
“He loves to train, with Olympiacos after the main training he made a personal programme with the ball to improve crosses, to improve his physical condition.
2019-20 stats: Tsimikas in the Champions League group stage
“Tsimikas has a really good percentage of crosses inside the area, he knows where the fellow player is inside the area and he passes the ball really well. He doesn’t cross the ball just to cross the ball inside the area.
“He did a lot of things to improve his game, he will listen to Klopp, whatever he wants to say to him. He loves training, he’s a hard worker – a really hard worker. It’s a perfect player for what Jürgen Klopp wants for the club. He will do anything to be in the team and he will wait, of course; he has to wait.”