InterviewFreddie Woodman: Working with Alisson and Mamardashvili is a joy
Freddie Woodman is relishing every minute of his Liverpool career and takes joy in working with Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper signed for the Reds on a free transfer earlier this summer and has settled quickly at his new club.
Woodman, a former England U21 international, is part of a fresh-look group led by head of first-team goalkeeping Xavi Valero and is delighted by the opportunity to work with stoppers of the calibre of Alisson and fellow new arrival Mamardashvili.
He told Liverpoolfc.com in Hong Kong: “It’s been brilliant. I think we’ve worked well, especially while we’ve been here in Hong Kong. It’s been hard work, hard graft and we are pushing each other and, I think, getting the best out of each other.
“Working with Ali, for myself I’m getting to work with one of the best in the world and I’m just trying to take bits from his game and put them into my game. It’s the same with Giorgi as well – they are world-class goalkeepers, top goalkeepers, and it’s a joy to work with them every day.
“Ultimately you come into a building full of world-class players and you get to know they are nice human beings and normal people firstly.
“It’s been great to get to know everyone on that note and then obviously you get on the training pitch and you go and play your matches and you see the quality and you see the standard.
“For me personally [it’s about] trying to get to that level as quick as possible and help the team where I can.”
Young ’keepers Armin Pecsi and Kornel Misciur are also part of the Premier League champions’ pre-season tour and Woodman welcomes the responsibility of passing on his knowledge and experience.
He added: “One hundred per cent. Where I can share my experience – I’ve played 300 senior games, a lot in the Championship and I’m sure those boys will try to go out and play and do the rounds.
“So I’m just trying to share my experience where I can and help the young lads. When I was a young lad I had it with Tim Krul and Rob Elliot, they helped me massively when I was a young lad at Newcastle [United] and I guess this is my turn to share my experience and help them.”
Woodman joined Liverpool after the expiry of his contract with Preston North End, for whom he made 138 appearances in three years.
“Obviously [it was] unbelievable for me personally to sign for this club,” he recalled.
“The transition has been lovely, everyone at the club has made me feel welcome, the lads have been brilliant and it’s been nice to come away on tour and get to know everyone.
“I was on holiday with the family and eyeing up my options and got a message from Richard Hughes and it moved from there. It moved really quickly and I was absolutely delighted.
“It was a nice moment for me to sign for the club [and] have my wife and my daughter there and share that moment, and then quickly up to the AXA [Training Centre] and quickly getting to know everyone.”
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