Football hasn’t been this easy since Under-5s
SAYS ANDY ROBERTSON
Andy Robertson hasn’t felt so invincible since he was playing kids’ football at primary school in Glasgow.
If winning breeds confidence then the Liverpool full-back is feeling 10ft tall and reckons the English Premier League is child’s play.
The Scotland star struggles to recall a time when everything was so simple on a football pitch – but eventually he comes up with the answer.
“Maybe Under-5s!” he jokes, clearly revelling in an unbeaten run of games for Liverpool that has already claimed high-profile victims domestically and in Europe.
“It’s not just me. All the lads have that confidence but it is about showing it the right way.
“Victories give you confidence and we must keep that going now.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s stars have made a powerful early-season statement of intent.
They beat PSG – Neymar, Kylian Mbappe et al – in their Champions League opener and followed it up with a win over Southampton at Anfield yesterday.
But the defender doesn’t have any truck with talk that Liverpool are on course for a historic first league title in 29 years or another trip to the Champions League Final in Madrid in May.
He insists boss Jurgen Klopp and the Anfield dressing room are staying grounded and keeping a tight lid on expectations this term. He said: “While there may be noises outside the club we are focused.
“I know the fans are optimistic – but they are realistic as well.
“All the players and staff are keeping their feet on the ground. You don’t win anything in September.
“You win things in May or April and we have done nothing now except win a couple of games.
“Our good start will be irrelevant if we don’t keep it going. Yes, we have some momentum behind us but we can’t afford to let that drop.”
Robertson believes the Champions League win over PSG perfectly showcased the mentality coursing through Klopp’s players and the belligerent refusal to accept a draw or defeat.
He said: “PSG had worldclass players but we knew we could cause them problems – and we did.
“Whatever competition we are in we try to win it.
“We have to compete the best we can, whether that is the Champions League, Premier League, League Cup or FA Cup. “They are all competitions we believe we can do our best in. I agree with the manager that whatever competition it is we should try to do our best and see where we are at the end of the season.”
And far from bringing extra pressure Robertson is adamant winning is the only way to go.
He explained: “I don’t think it adds to the pressure at all.
“You go out to win every game. Winning breeds confidence throughout the place and hopefully we can continue that.
“We believe we can win every game because we can cause teams problems but it is when we are not 100 per cent we struggle. We are not doing that just now and hopefully it stays that way.”
A year ago, after his £8million move from Hull, Robertson was struggling to establish himself as an automatic starter but now is one of the first names on Klopp’s team-sheet.
The Scot said: “When I came to the club I knew it would be tough with the squad we have but I had time to adapt and take everything on board.
“I knew when I got my chance I had to take it and luckily I’ve done that.
“It was my aim to prove I can play at this level.
“Hopefully I’ve done that now but I just want to improve every day. “I feel as if I am getting better and
better.”