Darwin Nunez has admitted he ‘doesn’t understand’ Jurgen Klopp’s squad talk and needs the club’s Spanish and Portuguese-speaking stars to help play the translator.
The Liverpool striker only arrived at the club in the summer and has had a great start to life at Anfield with two goals and one assist in his opening two matches of the season.
Much was made of his goal in Liverpool’s Community Shield win over Man City, a match in which Erling Haaland failed to make an impact – but the strikers’ fortunes have since changed dramatically.
The record £85million signing from Liverpool has struggled to score goals since, with a three-match ban and injury disrupting his ability to settle at the club.
The 23-year-old has all the tools needed to succeed on Merseyside but, for now, he admits he is a little too dependent on his Spanish-speaking team-mates.
Nunez spoke to the Spanish media about the Reds’ Champions League group stage win over Rangers, where the striker performed well but again blanked in front of goal.
Asked about Klopp’s game plan, Nunez was quoted by El Pais newspaper as saying: “The truth is that, sincerely, in his talks, I don’t understand anything.
Nunez then clarified: “Afterwards, I ask my teammates what he is saying.
“But I think he is very clear about his game, he asks us to do simple things, not to be afraid to play, to be confident.
“And then when it comes time to lose the ball, he wants us to press. That’s what he always asks.
It looks like Thiago may be playing another important role at the club besides being Liverpool’s creative midfield maestro, with the Spaniard seen in an embrace with Nunez after the win over Rangers – possibly making alluding to his role in helping the new man settle.
And, after Nunez’s two years with Benfica, it looks like Liverpool’s Portuguese-speaking player staff are also lending a hand in breaking the language barrier.
Asked about his adjustment to life in England, he added: “Sometimes I feel a little indecisive, I don’t feel confident at all, but as training, matches [it will increase].
“The coach himself always gives me confidence, like Pepe [Pepijn Ljinders] and Victor [Matos]than the Portuguese [speaking players] who always translate for me, then I have my colleagues who talk to me and tell me to calm down.
“When they talk to me, I remain calmer because I know that if I do something wrong, they will always support me.”