Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp expressed his concern that the media could be over-hyping youngster Ben Woodburn.
The Reds beat Leeds United 2-0 yesterday in the EFL CuP quarter-Finals, getting a goal from Woodburn, who is just 17 years and 45 days old. Woodburn became the youngest goal scorer in Liverpool history, surpassing Michael Owen, by 100 days.
“We know what Ben is capable of and what he is already able to do,” Jurgen Klopp said. “My first job is to help these boys so that they can be the best.”
“In this case, Ben Woodburn. There’s a lot of things to do, especially to keep the public away as long as possible. That’s quite a difficult thing to do. But on the other hand, we only bring him in because we want to use him. So that means when he’s on the pitch he’s absolutely allowed to score goals, to prepare situations, to make crosses — how Trent [Alexander-Arnold] did, for example.”
You can read the full Klopp quote and more analysis on this topic over at this link.
What about Liverpool Winger Sadio Mane though? Is he given a green light to hype up Ben Woodburn? Doesn’t really matter as he is doing so anyway. In a reasonable manner though of course. He’s not over-doing it with hyperbole, which is what Klopp was telling the media not to do.
Mane told PA Sport he believes Ben Woodburn has “a very good future.”
“I want to congratulate him,” he said. “I hope he will keep going and working hard, and I think he will be a great player.
“Everyone was happy for him to score his first goal, especially in a big atmosphere at Anfield.”
“We have a great team this season and all the young players are playing confidently and are doing well and the game will become easier for them,” Mane continued. “I think they will help the team to move up.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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