Q&AJeremy Jacquet interview: 'Liverpool is a legendary club - I want to be part of history here'
The France U21 international defender's transfer is set to be ratified in the coming days, a deal which was agreed earlier this year.
Jacquet recently visited the AXA Training Centre for the first time and, while at his new workplace, sat down with Liverpoolfc.com for a chat.
Watch his first interview as a Red, or read every word, below.
Jeremy, congratulations, you are here as a Liverpool player. Can you describe your feelings?
I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here.
How does it feel to walk around the AXA Training Centre as a new member of the squad?
I am happy, I am very happy. When I see the facilities, I can see myself there. I feel good here and I am very excited to get started.
Why was Liverpool the right club for you?
It’s a legendary club, and the football philosophy and project really appealed to me. My family and I believe we have made the right choice and we feel really happy here.
You missed the final few months of last season due to a shoulder injury. How are you doing fitness-wise now?
I feel much improved and I will be 100 per cent ready [for the start of pre-season] because I’m a little ahead of schedule. I was given the go-ahead to start a programme of training with the group [at Stade Rennais], but it was a bit late to be with the team. But with continued hard work I’ll be fully fit before the season.
You will be travelling to the USA during pre-season. Are you excited to see the level of support the club has in a different part of the world?
Yes, I have been told about it. I know that the pre-season is going to take place there and I am very excited because there will be the first matches, the first training sessions with my teammates and I hope that it will go well.
Can you describe the qualities and attributes you will bring to the squad?
I’m quite an athletic player and it is often said that I’m pretty quick, despite being so tall. As for the qualities I can offer, I think I’m decent playing out from the back and I’m fairly calm and composed on the pitch.
How excited are you to learn from the players that are already here, such as Virgil van Dijk, who you are set to play alongside at the back?
Of course, I’m really excited to line up alongside a great player like him. I think he’s up there with the best centre-backs in the world currently, so I can only learn from him.
Is he one of your idols and someone you have looked up to?
I don’t like using the word ‘idol’, not even for the best players I admire. But naturally, he’s a player I look up to. As far as I’m concerned, he’s one of the best centre-backs and if I want to reach the very top I’ve got to absorb as much as I can from him, obviously.
When you walk around here and see the trophies the club has won, how does it feel to know you are now part of Liverpool FC?
Well, I was just thinking to myself that I want to try to bring back many more of them. I’ve seen all the cups and trophies and seen just how many there are, and I thought: ‘Wow, I really want to be part of the history of this club.’
You have captained France throughout the youth age groups – is leadership a quality you can contribute to this squad, too?
Yes, I think that I can bring that kind of leadership gradually. I think it’s something that will happen naturally by itself. I’m pretty talkative out there on the pitch, even though I’m fairly reserved off it. But yes, I think that on the field that will evolve naturally.
Have you watched videos about the club, its history, its supporters?
Yes, I’ve watched lots of videos, mainly the more recent ones and mainly on the club’s YouTube channel, to try to see stuff like what goes on during training and to look back at the club’s history. Although I’m not across everything just yet, I’m going to get right up to speed soon.
Have you dreamed about how it would feel to score at Anfield?
I think that every Liverpool player dreams about scoring in this great stadium and I really hope that this will happen as quickly as possible.
Finally, you are here with your family today – they must also be so happy and very proud…
I think they are really, really proud of me. I think they’ve got a few stars in their eyes, a bit like I have! They are all excited and can’t wait for everything to get started, and that I begin to get some training sessions and a run of games under my belt.