Joel Matip Q&A: Fitness, defensive responsibility, Jota and more
Joel Matip discussed topics including his fitness, Liverpool’s defensive situation and Diogo Jota during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.
The centre-back answered journalists’ questions remotely from Anfield ahead of the Reds’ Champions League meeting with Atalanta BC.
“The fitness or medical department always try to tell you to improve things,” Matip replied, when asked whether he is taking extra steps to minimise the risk of injury with Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk both sidelined.
“We are working on different things. Sometimes you don’t have that much influence on it, but we are working hard to keep every player as fit as possible. This includes me and I hope, and I’m looking forward, to be playing as much as possible and to stay fit.”
Read on for a full transcript of the rest of the No.32’s press conference…
On what it means to players that limited numbers of fans are set to be allowed back into some Premier League stadiums from next week…
I think every player was looking forward from the first day back to this moment, to see the supporters back in the stadium. Even with a smaller group, everybody is looking forward to having them back on the stands [and] to be part of this.
On Liverpool’s recent solidity despite various defensive absences…
Players like them every team would miss, but every player has to step in and we have a lot of games so there will probably be a few changes over the weeks. But we’re feeling good and we have to perform with the players that are there and I have all the confidence in my teammates that we can perform on the best level we can.
On whether he is feeling and enjoying the responsibility of being the Reds’ only recognised senior fit centre-back…
I always try to play my part and try to be the best player I can be, and if I can help some players at the moment more then of course I would really like to do this. But we have a team with a lot of great players and everybody tries to help each other, but if I can step in and help them more, of course I would be really thankful for this also.
On the impact of Jota and whether training against him and Liverpool’s other forwards has made him a better player…
Of course he brought extra quality but we have quality in our team and every training [session] is a challenge, especially for a defender. You can improve and it’s a challenge to enjoy playing against the best players, even in training, and this helped everybody to improve. I think this is the way we have been going in the last few years and it worked quite good so far.
On playing alongside different partners at centre-back and whether he adapts his game accordingly…
Of course every player reacts different in some kind of situation, but for them it’s the same. You have to react and you have to adapt with it, but it’s not only this [the defence], the whole team have to include players when they come in. So far we did it quite good and I am confident that it doesn’t matter what happens, we always include the player who does come in so that they can settle and they can play the best football they can play. But of course, every player has to adapt, yes.
On what he is expecting from Atalanta...
Their attacking line, their attacking qualities, are a threat for every team in Europe and we have to be prepared for a really tough and hard game. We cannot compare to the game in Italy, it’s a completely new game where we have to start from the first second, otherwise they will cause us really big problems and it’s a really tough night, but even if we perform it will be a really tough night for us.