Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Darwin Nunez breaks silence on 'difficult' Liverpool start and not understanding Jurgen Klopp

Darwin Nunez admits he has found it "a little difficult" to adapt to life at Liverpool - and revealed how he is overcoming the language barrier with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

Nunez has struggled to make a consistent impact since his potential club record £85million move from Benfica in the summer, not helped by missing three games through suspension following his red card against Crystal Palace in August.

The 23-year-old has yet to score at Anfield, but posted his best overall performance for Liverpool when making his third start in Tuesday's home 2-0 Champions League win over Rangers.

PAUL GORST: Giovanni van Bronckhorst may have just predicted Liverpool future after Rangers win

IAN DOYLE: Jurgen Klopp finds new midfield option as bold change helps Mohamed Salah

JURGEN KLOPP: Liverpool boss sends Darwin Nunez message after promising display

And Nunez is confident the support of the manager and his team-mates can continue helping him acclimatise in his new environment.

"The truth is that it was a little difficult to adapt, but I believe that, as training and games go by, I will adapt little by little," he said. "I have the support of my team-mates.

"(After the red card) was a very tough time. I was suspended for three games, I know I made a big mistake and now I'm aware that it won't happen again. I have to calm my nerves during the games, talk less. We all make mistakes and I know it will serve as a learning and an experience."

Nunez hasn't scored since following his Community Shield strike against Manchester City with a goal on the Premier League opening weekend at Fulham two months ago.

And while uneasy at such a barren spell, the forward is adamant he can take confidence from his display against Rangers where he was continually denied by fine saves from visiting goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

"I believe that," said the Uruguay international. "The important thing is to leave my mark on the team, someone who can always contribute by playing well and, if I don't score, I have to be calm.

"When the first one goes in, more will go in. I've been through that (in the past), and it's a little uncomfortable because, in the end, as forwards we live on goals.

"But I'm calm, the coach has always supported me. My team-mates also support me at all times and I will always try to help the team by scoring goals or, even without a goal, try to help the best I can."

With Nunez yet unable to speak English and Liverpool boss Klopp not fluent in Spanish or Portuguese, the striker has explained the integral role being played by Reds assistant boss Pep Lijnders and elite development coach Vitor Matos in team briefings.

Talking to TNT Sports Brasil, Nunez said of his relationship with Klopp: "Well, we don't talk much! I don't know English and he doesn't know Spanish. Yes, we have a Portuguese translator in Pep (Lijnders), who I understand, and there is also Vitor (Matos), another Portuguese.

"They are the translators when Klopp talks to the group. They sit next to me and explain what I have to do. If they didn't explain it to me, I'd enter the field with no idea what to do.

"But the relationship with the coach is that he supports me, gives me confidence and I have to repay that on the field."

READ NEXT

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.