Good lad Millie
Milner tells Liverpool boss Klopp: I'm happy to be Mr Versatile this season.
22:30, 30 Jul 2016
By James Pearce
The team comes first for Reds vice captain.
James Milner has told JĆ¼rgen Klopp that heās happy to be Liverpoolās Mr Versatile this season as he insisted: āThe team comes first.ā
The Reds vice-captain confirmed that Klopp has asked him to fill in at full-back at times this season.
It emerged earlier this week that the manager might not sign another left-back during the current transfer window after missing out on Leicesterās Ben Chilwell as he believes the experienced midfielder can provide cover for Alberto Moreno.
āThe manager pulled me at the start,ā Milner said. āHeās obviously looked at his squad and what players he has. Heās asked if I was willing to cover the full-back positions, basically, if there was a point in the season where there were injuries or like at Man United last season in the Europa League when I played left back. We had a conversation about it and I told him itās not my favourite position and not one I particularly like playing, but heās the manager and if he wants me to play there, Iāll play there. The team comes first, always has, always will."
Thatās a typically selfless approach from Milner, who chipped in with seven goals and 14 assists during his first season with the Reds after joining from Manchester City on a free transfer.
Part of the attraction of signing for Liverpool a year ago was Brendan Rodgersā promise of a central midfield role. Under Klopp, he was shifted out wide last season and he accepts the landscape has changed.
āThatās football,ā he said. "Throughout my career you have to play in different positions. Iām sure things will come up during the season and there will be injuries and suspensions in all the positions, and Iām probably a good player for a manager to have because I fill in in a number of positions. It looks like I have added two more to the reel as well. Iām just looking for goalkeeper now to complete the set! Itās the the only one, yeah. Itās like hunting Pokemon - itās the only one I need! Like I said to the manager, I donāt like playing there but I will give you the best that I can and if thatās needed I will play there."
āWe do have a lot less games this year with no Europe, so that will be slightly different as well, but I am confident that given the game time I can perform in whatever position the manager puts me in and still fight for a place in that midfield as well. But, ultimately, where the manager picks me I will go out there and do as well as I can.ā
Milner clocked up 45 appearances for the Reds last season and relished being a key figure after life on the periphery at Manchester City. The 30-year-old came agonising close to lifting some silverware as the Reds fell short in the final of both the League Cup and the Europa League. Now he wants to help ensure that Kloppās revamped squad kick on in 2016/17.
āWhen I moved I wanted to play football,ā Milner added. āThatās what it is all about. You get nothing for training really, the amount of sessions you do throughout your career, ultimately it means nothing, itās to prepare you for that game day. I have still got a lot of years left touch wood, I am only 30."
āI want to look back and think I have done as much as I can and played as much football as I can. I was playing 25 games (per season) at City which is not a small amount but I just felt like I wanted to be involved that little bit more. It wasnāt just about that as well. We know how big a club Liverpool is. I probably have not won as much as I would have liked to over the years, I said that when I joined. We gave ourselves those two opportunities last year and didnāt quite take them so that was disappointing. I was pleased in another way that the move worked out the way Iād hoped in that we were in with a chance of winning silverware. Thatās ultimately what the game is about.ā
Logged