Jarell Quansah insists he’s paying no attention to the speculation around Liverpool’s next manager. The Reds’ search for Jürgen Klopp’s successor took a dramatic twist this week as Xabi Alonso ruled himself out of the running.
Alonso confirmed his decision to stay with Bayer Leverkusen next season during a press conference on Friday, ending rumors linking him with Liverpool and Bayern Munich. It means the Reds will have to look elsewhere for a new boss.
According to the ECHO, Sporting CP boss Rúben Amorim is the new favored target. Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and current Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann are also being hotly tipped for the Anfield dugout.
It’s of little interest to Quansah though. The Liverpool defender is instead focusing on putting things right after the Reds’ exit from the FA Cup before the international break.
“Nothing, literally nothing,” he told the ECHO when asked how much attention he had been paying to the manager speculation. “There’s a lot bigger things in the near future that we’re playing for.
“We came into the international break off the (Manchester) United (FA Cup) game, but before that, it was can we win every cup and every game and that’s how it’s been all season. That was a massive opportunity that we missed there.
“We felt we were in complete control at times so to let it slip away like that was frustrating. We’ve had a few days to iron out a couple of things and get working back as a team and hopefully put a good push to the end of the season.”
Quansah has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Liverpool. The 21-year-old has made 25 appearances so far, including starts in recent games against United and Manchester City. The academy graduate is just one of a number of players to have benefitted under Klopp’s guidance. Quansah admits he wishes he had more time to play under the German.
“Out of possession, definitely,” he said when asked how Klopp had helped improve his game. “He wants you to really work hard and put everything into games, that’s the bare minimum. “The other coaching staff will also have their input and obviously his passion is everything around defending and just playing the game really.
“I think you’ve got to see it as what he’s done for us and not the fact that he’s leaving. [We’ve] got to see the opportunity he has given us and what we’ve learned from him and take that into your next years of playing football.
