Coutinho: Klopp lets us do what we want

Ian Watson

Philippe Coutinho says Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp “demands a lot”, but lets the players “do what they want” on the field.

The 24-year-old has been named the best Brazilian player in Europe and was yesterday presented with the award at Melwood.

Coutinho saw off Barcelona star Neymar for the Samba Gold award, claiming 32.13% of the overall vote, with Neymar placed second on 27.88% and Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro third with 13.35% of the votes,

Coutinho, who scored 18 goals for club and country during 2016, admitted he was “very happy” to win the award after a “good year”.

“It means a lot. I’m very happy to know that this past year I have been recognised by many people. It was an important year for me and I’m very happy to win this award,” he told the club’s website.

“It was a good year. As a team, we played very well and we managed to get to two finals. Unfortunately, we did not win the finals, we lost.

“That was a very difficult time for us to deal with the defeat (to Sevilla) but this certainly made the group stronger.

“We started the season very well, at a high level. We all played very well, so, of course, 2016 was a good year. In the end I got injured, I missed a few games at the end of the year, but it was a positive year.”

Coutinho. who only last month penned a new £200,000-a-week contract to tie him to the Anfield club until 2022, also revealed some of the secrets working under Jurgen Klopp.

He added: “The coach demands a lot from the group. We work hard as a group and of course Liverpool has great players.

“Everyone has been playing well this season and has done what the coach has asked for. And in relation to that, the coach lets us do what we want on the field.

“Of course, everyone has their responsibility, when they do not have the ball, they should mark, be in their position, defend. But he lets us do what we want.

“No one feels pressure to determine who will make decisions and who will defend. Everyone works together, as a group.”