Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has been the subject of criticism this season, having been one of many underperforming players in Arne Slot’s team
Ibrahima Konate insists Liverpool will fight back following criticism of the team and personal stick that has come his way. The defender admits that improvement is needed after enduring a difficult season so far for the Reds.
The Premier League champions reached a new low on Wednesday after being brushed aside in a 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven. Peter Bosz’s side inflicted a ninth defeat in the last 12 matches for Liverpool with pressure mounting on Arne Slot following a dour 3-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest.
Konate, 26, has been heavily criticised this season for his performances for the Reds. He was at fault for another goal as his error led to PSV making it 3-1 midway through the second-half, when a loose touch allowed the visitors to race through on goal.
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He wrote on Instagram: “We have to take this moment on the chest. Criticism is part of football, and we’ll fight back every time and come through this storm. In these moments, the fans matter most.
“The ones who stand with us in the good times and the bad – the ones who sing for us even in the difficult moments! Your voice and your support mean everything to us.
“We know we need to improve and we’ll keep fighting for you. Always.”
When Liverpool have found themselves trailing in recent matches, the France international centre-half has been sacrificed for an attacker on more than one occasion.
During the defeat to Sean Dyche’s side, he was withdrawn for Hugo Ekitike after 55 minutes, and it was a similar case in the Champions League when he was replaced by Federico Chiesa with 14 minutes remaining on Wednesday night.
With Giovanni Leoni out for the season with a knee injury and persistent issues for Joe Gomez, Liverpool are threadbare in defence.
Speaking ahead of the trip to West Ham United this Sunday, Slot admitted that Konate was absent for two days before Wednesday’s disappointment.
The Dutchman – who has faced some calls for the sack – has important decisions to make around his team selection, with Liverpool at risk of falling further behind in the Champions League race, let alone the title battle.
“Yes, we have had the same conversations since I was here,” Slot confirmed, regarding conversations over his situation with sporting director Richard Hughes.
“I am not sure if I said last night but we fight on, we try to improve – that’s what we all try – but the conversations have been the same as they have been for the last one-and-a-half years.
“There is a lot of pressure if you play or work at a top club and even more so if you start losing more games than this club or these players or this manager is used to. Then there is always pressure.
“But there was pressure last season for us to win the league and now it’s a different kind of pressure because we have lost so many games. What it does to me is I can just do the same but I don’t have to play, so maybe my job is a bit easier when it comes to this.
“We have to keep fighting. That is what we have done so well last season and what this club has been about for so many years. That is what we expect. The minimum I and we expect is we do it over 90 minutes, which is not always easy if you get knock after knock after knock.”
