Liverpools Mamadou Sakho eager to prove hes not a £17million dead-loss 22 Oct 2013 22:30 New defender nicknamed Killer by boss Rodgers accepts hes not yet at 100% but is progressing with each match Hes been dubbed the killer by his manager, but Mamadou Sakho admits hes hardly shown lethal form so far in his Liverpool career. The French defender was a dramatic signing from Paris Saint-Germain late in the summer window at an eye-opening £17million fee, and has played every game for the Reds since his arrival at the end of August. But even though Liverpool marched to the top of the Premier League after he signed, and have remaining in the fight at the top of the table, the centre-half concedes there is still far more to come from him. Im not yet at 100 per cent, Im progressing with each match that we have, he admitted in his first interview as a Red. When you arrive in a country you dont know, you have to learn quickly about the differences in the game and have to get on and adapt yourself to the qualities of your teammates. I work every day at training sessions to progress and to achieve the highest level. Its logical that I would improve. Given his price-tag, much was expected from the France international - especially after MD Ian Ayre described him as the clubs marquee signing. So far, he has failed to live up to that billing, struggling to adapt to the pace and ferocity of the English game... and the cultural differences, as he admitted in an interview back home in France last week. Its getting better as I learn the language, because I need to communicate, but there are still mistakes - Ive found myself driving on the right once or twice! he revealed. But I am learning. With the football, I am not experienced because it is different to France, but I listen hard to the instructions of the coach. Its funny, he calls me Killer! Rodgers is convinced Sakho will prove to be a man mountain at the heart of his defence when hes settled in, and the 23-year-old believes he is now beginning to come to terms with the style of the team: Over the course of matches, you hope to be able to adapt to and dominate with a different system. I dont think it will be a problem for me. mirror
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 22:10:00 +0000