Darwin Nunez has revealed that he “doesn’t understand” what Jurgen Klopp says after the Uruguayan endured a tough start to life at Liverpool.
Since joining the Anfield club from Benfica in a deal worth £85 million, Nunez has struggled to convince fans that he can be the man to fire Liverpool to glory.
The 23-year-old’s hot-headed antics against Crystal Palace did not help his course as he was shown a straight red card on his Anfield debut. Since his return from suspension, Nunez has found himself behind the likes of Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota in the pecking order.
Nunez was handed a start against Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday night. However, despite an encouraging performance, he failed to find the back of the net as he was up against an inspired Allan McGregor.
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After the match, he admitted that he cannot understand Klopp’s instructions.
Nunez told ESPN Colombia: “The truth is that, honestly, in the team talks he speaks and I don’t understand anything.
“I then ask my teammates to tell me what he said. But I think he is very clear about his game.
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“He asks us to make things simple, to not be afraid to play, to have confidence. And then when we lose the ball he wants us to press. That’s what he always asks for.”
Nunez then spoke candidly about his struggles on the pitch since his big-money move to Merseyside.
He said: “Sometimes I feel indecisive, I don’t feel confident at all. But as training sessions go by and matches [that will increase]. The coach himself always gives me confidence.
“So do [assistant manager] Pep [Lijnders] and [elite development coach] Vitor [Matos], who speak Portuguese and always translate for me.
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“And then I have my teammates who talk to me and tell me to be calm. When they speak to me it calms me because I know that if I do something wrong, they’ll always have my back.”
Klopp also backed his man after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Rangers.
The German said: “You saw how good a striker he [Nunez] is to be constantly in those situations. Everybody saw tonight that this will happen. So all good.”
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It remains to be seen whether Klopp will start Nunez in the upcoming Premier League clash against leaders Arsenal.
Topics: Darwin Nunez, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool
Marcus Chan