Rio Ngumoha has revealed the one thing Andoni Iraola wants from him after Liverpool came from behind to beat Atlético Madrid 2-1 in their Champions League opener at Anfield.
The 18-year-old started his first Champions League game, and afterwards explained exactly what his manager expects from him.
“The manager knows I’m good at attacking but to play you have to be good at defending as well, or you just have to work hard,” Ngumoha said. “That’s what he wants from me.
“I’m pleased that the gaffer put faith in me and I just wanted to prove to him and prove to myself that I could play at this level. It was a good game.
“We know as a team we have a lot of fight, especially under the new gaffer now. He drives the fight within us.”
Ngumoha spent 59 minutes on the pitch before being replaced by Víctor Muñoz. Liverpool had fallen behind to Marcos Llorente in the first half, but Dominik Szoboszlai equalised before Alexis Mac Allister completed the comeback shortly after the break.
Ngumoha was also involved in the build-up to the winning goal. He carried the ball forward on the left before Liverpool eventually worked it into the area, with Mac Allister finishing to make it 2-1.
It was a significant opportunity for the teenager, who was handed a starting place alongside new signing Bradley Barcola as Iraola made his Champions League debut as Liverpool manager. Ngumoha had already impressed enough to earn the trust of his new boss, but the message from Iraola is clear: attacking quality alone will not be enough.
The youngster already knows what his biggest strength is. Now he has to show that he can work just as hard when Liverpool don’t have the ball.