Cody Gakpo: Liverpool Work to Stay "Calm" and "Focused"
Today at 02:00 PM
It would be very easy to get carried away
Cody Gakpo shone against Real Madrid, and spoke to the press ahead of an arguably much larger match — in terms of challenge and impetus — against Manchester City at the weekend.
The Dutchman was pleased with Liverpool's performance against the holders mid-week, but sees the weekend as an even bigger chance to prove themselves:
"It is a massive opportunity, I think against a very good team, one of the best teams in Europe actually [who have been] dominating a lot of games in recent years.
"But this is a massive chance for us to show them what we are made of and that's what we are planning to do. So, hopefully it's going to be a good game from us again and we end up with a win.
"Obviously we are in a good position, you cannot deny that. But I think it's still early in the season so we are not really looking at the table yet. Obviously we are aware of the situation but we have to keep winning the games to stay on top and also just to win the games.
"That's what we are training for, working hard for, staying calm for as well, and I think that is also a strength of our team: that we are not really getting dragged away in the situation, but we really are focused on the next game ahead and that will be the case now as well.
"I think that's a big strength of the group but also of the staff. I think how the manager approaches each game is – I think I said it before – like we didn't play a game before and we don't play a game after.
"I think that is very helpful, also because we have a lot of young players as well. So, yeah, I think it is good [and] I think the more experienced players in the team also help us: the players that won already a lot of things, they know how to act in these sort of situations.
"They help us as well and it's only good for us."
In speaking of his team's performance against Real Madrid, Gakpo emphasized the control they strived for and achieved — something that would do wonders also on Sunday:
"It was a good game, a big result, so very happy with the start but the week is not over yet so we have to keep going," the Netherlands international reflected.
"From the side obviously it looked like we had a lot of control. We had a lot of possession, sometimes [we were] a little bit sloppy, but I think we dominated the game, especially in possession, we created some good opportunities but we didn't score yet.
"Then the second half, I think we played a little bit better than the first half and obviously Macca scored a great goal, great team play as well, and from that moment on you felt like we're not going to give it away.
"But after that we got a penalty against, but a big save from Caoimh [Kelleher], and in the end I scored the second one so overall I think [it was] a good performance from the team and a good start to the week."
