InterviewMilos Kerkez on training intensity, Milan reunion and... tackling with his head
Sometimes, there’s just nothing else for it but to tackle with your head.
Or at least that’s the situation Milos Kerkez found himself in during Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Preston North End earlier this month.
The left-back was making his first appearance in the Reds shirt that day and his enthusiasm and commitment quickly caught the eye among supporters.
Not least when he attempted to win a ball on the ground with an unorthodox diving header.
Asked about the reaction online to that moment, Kerkez told Liverpoolfc.com on tour in Hong Kong with a laugh: “Yeah, I saw that!
“It was a foul even before that I think, but then I saw the referee was not giving anything. The ball was a little bit far away, I lost balance and I had to jump somewhere. I was closer to jump with my head! I got the ball. I think it was a foul.
“It’s me, you know, it’s how I play – I always give 100 per cent.
“When you play for Liverpool you have to always give everything on the pitch for the fans and for the badge, and that’s what I want to do.”
The Hungary international was speaking soon after being part of Liverpool’s Friday morning session in Hong Kong.
Arne Slot’s squad are working amid testing temperatures in Asia as they sharpen their fitness for the start of the forthcoming campaign.
“It has been really good,” said Kerkez. “Intense – that’s how we like to train. We are adapting to the heat still but it’s good, all the guys train hard and we are getting really ready physically.
“I think it will help definitely, when we get back to England then the lungs will open. Because we train in big heat and we know how the weather is there. So, I think it will help us a lot and we will get back really ready.”
Kerkez is, of course, one of the new signings settling in at the club this summer, having completed a move to the Premier League champions from AFC Bournemouth.
So, has anything surprised him at the Reds to date?
“Of course I know it is one of the biggest clubs in the world and when I came it just surprised me also how professional everything is and how high a level everything is,” he replied.
“And that you really have to work hard every single day to compete. It’s the highest level. That surprised me but it’s also what I was looking for, so I’m really happy.”
Liverpool’s time in Hong Kong this week will culminate with a pre-season fixture versus AC Milan at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday.
Kerkez’s career path to Anfield included a spell with Milan – and he’s therefore naturally excited for the match-up of his clubs current and former.
“Obviously I played there and trained a lot with the first team, know a lot of the guys,” he said.
“It will be fun and will be good also for me to get more minutes and get adapted more to my teammates. I’m looking forward to it – it’s my old team and I have good memories there.”