InterviewJayden Danns on Jürgen Klopp's wisdom, Ibou Konate connection and taking chances
Jayden Danns is treasuring the opportunity of being coached by Jürgen Klopp having broken into Liverpool’s senior squad during the final months of the manager’s reign.
Teenage striker Danns has enjoyed a remarkable start to his time within Klopp’s group.
Since late February, the Scouser has made four senior appearances, scored twice at Anfield, claimed a Carabao Cup winner’s medal and signed a new long-term contract with his boyhood club.
Of course, 2023-24 will be Klopp’s final season in charge of the Reds and Danns has spoken of his eagerness to maximise the time he has left with the manager and his staff.
“To be honest, every time I’ve spoken with the boss he’s just been really encouraging and he’s probably the perfect role model,” the 18-year-old told Liverpoolfc.com.
“As a manager, personally I think he is the best manager in the world and when you look at him you’re a bit starstruck and he’s got this aura around him.
“So, yeah, every time you speak with him it’s meaningful and his biggest message is probably to just work hard and even Pep [Lijnders], he has been a big influence in me as well and his message was to work hard and do the same thing as well.
“So, in my mind I am just going to take on what they give me and work as hard as I can to try to perfect my tools and be the best player I can be.”
Danns’ adaption from Academy to senior set-up has been smoothened by the inclusive environment fostered by the more experienced players he now calls teammates.
He added: “To be fair, all of them have been brilliant to me. I mean, they’ve been really welcoming, but I’d say Ibou [Konate] has probably been the biggest one. He’s so bubbly as a character, you can’t describe him as a personality, you go up there and he is like: ‘Dannsy!’
“It’s mental, to be honest, and I’m looking at him still thinking he’s like a film character because I’ve watched him all these years! When he’s putting his arm around you, you just feel at home.
“The whole squad is inspirational, to be honest. I’m coming into a squad that is up there contending for the league and they’ve won big things, so all these players I just try to soak in as much as I can and absorb all the information.
“They’ve all got brilliant things to give you and as a youngster, there’s nothing more you can ask for, really, to be coming into top players and them giving you advice. You look at [Mohamed] Salah and how professional he is and yeah, it’s just brilliant, to be honest.”
Danns went on to state his determination to further enhance the fairy-tale-like story of his debut campaign as a senior player.
“I think the hunger has always been in my belly, even from when I was younger if a player was starting over me I wouldn’t like it,” the forward said.
“So, to be honest, my big goal is to just progress as far as I can go and keep trying to get better as a player, to keep progressing and trying to score goals and do the best for the team. So, the hunger’s not gone, it’s only just started. That first taste is just unbelievable so you just want to keep getting it again and I’m grateful for everything that is coming.
“This is my boyhood club and I’m just grateful to be in this situation. Like I said, the more chances I get the more chances I want to take.
“But if I don’t get them chances I just want to keep working hard and there’s top-class players ahead of you [so] there’s no fuss about whether you’re in or you’re not, you’re just grateful when you’re in and around it, so the chances that I get, I’ll work as hard as I can and try to take them.”