The famous Bill Shankly quote ‘believe you are the best and then make sure you are’ springs to mind when it comes to Roberto Firmino describing his attitude towards the game.
Adapting to the physicality of the Premier League is a challenge for a lot of foreign players who come to England but Firmino seems to have mastered it.
He has by no means distanced himself from the tough tackles or the constant grappling and has been able to express his talent on the pitch in spite of all this.
Speaking in the official Liverpool FC magazine, Liverpoolfc.com has cited him as saying: “Sometimes people see you as skinny and then they think ‘Oh, he is not a strong player.’ No matter how skinny you are, the important thing is how you think psychologically.”
“If you think you are strong, you are really strong and I class myself as a strong player. I’m not intimidated by powerful defenders.”
“Maybe when you are younger, playing against huge centre-backs might cause some fear to you but when you are an older player, there is no more fear. You simply play as best you can and go about your work. That’s what you do.”
“There is no fear at all.”
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What a signing the Brazilian has been. His self belief highlights the confidence and the determination that seems to be flowing through the entire squad.
His courage and bravery will be put to the test on Monday night when he features for his side in the Merseyside derby.
Not only will Jurgen Klopp require his attacking expertise, but he will also need him to play a part in helping his teammates hold their own in what has the potential to be a fierce contest.