Year of Coutinho MK2

Philippe Coutinho has told Brazilian radio station Radio Tupi that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is moulding him into a midfield general.

In an interview translated by Liverpool fan page Liverpool FC 360 – Jeremy’s Lfc360, the playmaker said that he feels he’s toughened up since going to England and that he is using his physicality.

The radio presenter says “Speaking of improvement, I see you’re not that mild-mannered boy on the pitch anymore?”, to which Coutinho replies: “I owe thanks to Brendaõ (Brendan Rodgers) for that. After Wigan away, where I didn’t stop fighting – Brendan called me to office and told me he’s sure I can be a ‘volanté’ or a no. 8.”

The presenter then questions this development, saying it isn’t Coutinho’s natural game. Coutinho disagrees: “A number 8 role? Why not? I’m only a boy. Brendan showed me I can learn. Brendaõ said before Everton at Anfield, “do you have the fire?” Before Arsenal he told me to not give them peace. I gave no peace.

It (my physique) will be (suited). I’m working closely with my amigo Pedro Philippou (trainer) and (Ryland) Morgans. I look at my teammates too. I work with Joe (Allen) sometimes to see how he uses his body to protect the ball. He’s amazing at it.”

The midfielder then said that Rodgers had given him DVDs of Valderrama, Valeron, Rui Costa, Francescoli to study for holidays.

Before the interview finished, Coutinho was asked what he felt when he was excluded from the Brazil World Cup squad: “Anger. Not because I’m selfish, but because I could have offered something.

I’m going to use this anger and push myself to my limits. I saw how Luisito (Suárez) was a maniac in training. At this point, my body and mind feel like clay. I will mold it the way I envision, and I will use my fire to make them harder.”



http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/c...odgers-is-moulding-him-into-midfield-general/

 

Said it before but I really do think he's got the World at his feet and with the right mentality and coaching, he can truly become what ever he wants within the game. He has areas he needs to work on like his shooting but his eye for a pass is brilliant at his age, close control is superb (as expected by a Brazilian brought up on futsal), his touch and ability to get our of tight spaces are again very good and in the last year he's toughened up and getting stuck in and making tackles now as well.

Another year or so and I can totally see him being that Central Midfielder Rodgers is talking about rather than a luxury player stuck out on the wing and asked to drift inside.

 

His assist for the first goal today is a contender for Assist of the Decade.

 

Fingers crossed, he can be inconsistent as well

Interesting on the Allen comment. Ive never noticed this particularly

 

Alan positions himself on the ball the way good Spanish mids do, in positioning himself before he receives the ball.

Xavi and Inestia were brilliant at it. You can have your marker beat before you even receive the pass if you make an art of it, that and draw fouls constantly, like the other two i mentioned

 

Welsh Xavi

 

Some of the best players at protecting the ball are the smaller ones because they can't just use their brute strength to hold players off, instead having to use intelligence. And 99% of the time, intelligence will prevail over strength on a football pitch