Lucas-Liverpool: “Philippe Coutinho could be anything he wants to be”

With Philippe Coutinho keen on another chance to impress for Brazil this afternoon, club colleague and compatriot Lucas Leiva has backed the No.10 to prove his international worth in the years to come. Lucas explained to Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s a difficult one because there are a lot of players that are in his position, which is […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-03-29 16:17:00

With Philippe Coutinho keen on another chance to impress for Brazil this afternoon, club colleague and compatriot Lucas Leiva has backed the No.10 to prove his international worth in the years to come.

Lucas explained to Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s a difficult one because there are a lot of players that are in his position, which is a hard thing for him, but he will get his chances.

“I think being there with the national team and being, I would say, the 12th player at the moment is a big thing for him. The experience he is getting, he will get minutes.

“He has already shown here at Liverpool and also in the international team what he is capable of doing. You have Willian, Oscar and Neymar – all players who are in a good moment. Brazil is recovering from the World Cup and they are playing very well at the moment.

“That makes it even harder for Phil, for example, but I’m sure he will be in the national team for many, many years and he will end up being one of the key players, for sure.”

Ever since Coutinho swapped Inter Milan for Merseyside in January 2013, Lucas has been on hand to offer guidance, advice and companionship to the man known by teammates and fans as ‘the magician’.

There’s no doubt, therefore, that the experienced Reds midfielder has taken particular satisfaction from watching the 22-year-old develop into a feared creator in the Barclays Premier League.

“We speak a lot, not every day but probably six times a week,” Lucas continued. “As the older person, I try to speak to him.

“At the beginning of the season, for sure he wasn’t feeling so comfortable and as soon as the team started to play better as well as him, I think his confidence just grew.

“He knows that he needed to score more goals, as assists have always been his strength, creating chances, but adding goals was something that he was really looking forward to.

“I think he’s already showing that he’s working really hard to get the goals, in training sessions and then taking it into the games.

“I think he was getting a little bit frustrated at not getting many goals but this season he has already improved and don’t forget he is only 22, so he’s got everything to improve a lot of things but he is already a top player and I think he could be anything he wants to be.

“It’s just a case of giving him the confidence he needs and him believing in himself. That’s the key and I think he’s having that belief at the moment.”

The Brazilian duo were delighted with an opportunity to meet an idol of their country last Sunday, as the great Pele visited Anfield to watch Liverpool host Manchester United in the Premier League.

Before kick-off, Coutinho and Lucas met the three-time World Cup winner and exchanged a few words – a moment that neither will forget in a hurry.

“When I found out he was coming I was excited and I was trying to do everything I could to meet him because I had never met him before,” said the Reds’ No.21.

“It was quite funny and it was the first time and it was just the chance to take a picture with him and speak a few words with him.

“It was a very nice moment, a very nice picture which I will keep, and it was a nice tribute the club paid to him.”