Fabinho has revealed that Jurgen Klopp asked the Brazilian to more vocal in the Liverpool defence. The Brazil international was asked to fill the void left by Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch defender suffered serious knee injury in the Merseyside derby. The Brazilian started in centre-half for the second time in the 2020-21 season but for the first time without the Netherlands international alongside him at the back. Speaking to Viasport, as quoted by Metro, Fabinho revealed what Klopp asked the Brazilian before their 1-0 win against Ajax in the Champions League group-stage opener on Wednesday night. “Personally, when I knew Virgil was out for a long time it was a little bit of a shock because I think he’s the best defender in the world,” said Fabinho. “Most of all, he’s a leader of the team, in the dressing room he always keeps the good mood, the good atmosphere, and of course we miss this. “But we have to keep going, we have to try to do the best and win the games for him as well. We have Thiago, Alisson, Joel [Matip], some players injured right now, they try to recover as quickly as possible and we have to try to win every game.” Asked how his role will change if he becomes a regular in defence, Fabinho replied: “Tactically, I have to be always ready for the long balls, try to organise the team. It’s not easy but I have to do what Virgil always does and talk to the team, try to be a leader. Of course I’m not Virgil, but I’ll do my best. “It was very important for me and the team to keep a clean sheet today for the confidence of the team. Of course, I try to do my best, the manager said to me I have to talk more to the team to try to organise the team. Sometimes it’s little details like second balls, being ready, pressing well. I try to be in this role as well.”
Source: TSR/*Join us on Telegram!