InterviewGiorgi Mamardashvili Q&A: 'LFC has a big goalkeeper legacy - I want to write my chapter'

Georgia's No.1 officially arrived at the Premier League champions earlier this month from La Liga side Valencia, having initially agreed the switch to Anfield last August.

He made his first appearance for the Reds on Sunday with a 45-minute outing in the pre-season opener at Preston North End, which ended in a 3-1 victory for Arne Slot's men.

Mamardashvili then sat down with Liverpoolfc.com at the AXA Training Centre for his first interview as a Liverpool player, to discuss his pride at becoming the first Georgian to represent the club and a range of other topics.

Read on for the entire chat with the 24-year-old…

Giorgi, this is the first time we're speaking to you. Welcome to Liverpool. What is it like wearing that badge on your chest and finally being a Liverpool player?

Thank you. I am happy, I am very excited to be here. It's a huge moment for me because joining a club like Liverpool, it's not only a transfer, it's a dream come true for me. I feel ready, motivated and proud.

You agreed to move to Liverpool last summer – how did that moment feel then and how did it feel to arrive here and sign the contract?

When I agreed [to] Liverpool's offer last summer, I felt that something big was beginning in my life. But now I truly understand what it means to be Liverpool's player.

Since you've joined it has been a hugely difficult time for the club with the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. How much have the squad you've joined come together and supported each other, and also yourself and all the new signings?

Yes, when I first arrived here it was a really tough moment for the club. But everyone here has supported each other and I see here is like a big family. We are not just a team, we are people who care about each other.

You never played with Diogo but you actually played against him at the Euros, so you know how good a player he was. But seeing all the tributes to him at Anfield and around the world, that also shows you how good a person he was too…

I didn't have a chance to play with him but I played against him at Euro 2024, so I saw how amazing [a] player he was. I saw stories and messages and the love from people around him. I can see how amazing [a] person he was as well off the pitch.

You're here now after following Liverpool closely last season, I'm sure. It was quite a season…

Of course. I watched all the games with a different feeling, like I was already part of the team.

Watching the title win and the celebrations that followed, what was that like and did it make you even more excited to become a Liverpool player?

Of course it was amazing, seeing the fans [and] how they celebrated together. It was like a reminder [of] how much Liverpool means to so many people.

You're the first Georgian player to represent Liverpool. How proud are you of that fact and what will it mean to all the people back home?

Of course I am very proud to be the first Georgian player for Liverpool, and I know how much this means for my family and [for] Georgian people as well.

What was the reaction like back in Georgia when this deal was announced last summer?

I will never forget this day – when I signed a contract with Liverpool. It was amazing in Georgia. So many messages I received and everyone was so happy and excited.

Can you tell us about your journey towards becoming a Liverpool player? Coming up through Georgian football and then moving to Spain as a 20-year-old…

My journey started in Georgia, on the small pitches there. I played in [the] first league [for] three years and step by step I became part of the national team. At 20, I had the opportunity to go to Spain, and there I started my totally new life with [a] new language, new culture, new people. The first year was really tough for me.

I read when you went to Valencia you couldn't speak any Spanish and then four years later you're a really important player there. How much did you develop there?

Valencia played a really huge role in my life, because I didn't speak Spanish, I didn't speak English and, as I told you, my first year there was really tough. But then I quickly understood that if I wanted to play, I had to learn, I had to adapt and I had to work on myself every single day. Now I'm here in the biggest club in Premier League history.

Your goalkeeping coach at Valencia, Jose Manuel Ochotorena, actually worked at Liverpool in the past. Did he tell you anything about what to expect here?

Yes, of course. Ochotorena is an amazing person and an amazing coach. Actually, he was one of the first who I talked [to] about Liverpool's offer and he directly told me, 'Just sign the contract', because he knows how big [a] club Liverpool is, and I just want to tell him thank you. Thank you for everything and see you soon, Ochotorena.

I'm sure you want to keep on developing as a goalkeeper and that's why you've joined Liverpool, to take the next step in your career…

Of course. When I was a child I always watched some videos on YouTube of goalkeepers, and I remember some Liverpool goalkeepers as well. I remember Jerzy Dudek and then Pepe Reina and now Alisson Becker. Liverpool has a big goalkeeper legacy and I want to try to write my own chapter in this goalkeepers' legacy.

You are joining a really talented goalkeeping unit here at Liverpool, led by Alisson. How much do you admire him?

Of course, what I can tell about Ali, he's one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now and I am so happy to work with him.

Just how excited are you to learn from one of the best in the world on a daily basis?

I can't wait to start to work [with] him and learn from him.

But you'll obviously be here to play and provide competition in the squad. Is that a challenge you're looking forward to taking on?

Of course it will be a challenge. I like challenges and I'm here to just give my best and help the team.

You came to the attention of quite a lot of football fans during Euro 2024, where you played so well. But for those who haven't seen you in action before or that much, can you tell us what type of goalkeeper you are?

I don't like too much talking about myself! But I think I'm a very calm, concentrated goalkeeper and I'm very fast and quick in the goal.

You'll have spoken to Arne Slot and the staff here when the deal was agreed last summer and now. What have they said to you?

When I first arrived here I met him, and I'm very excited to work with one of the best coaches in the world.

Pre-season has started and you played the first 45 minutes against Preston. That was your first time in front of Liverpool fans – how did that feel?

Yeah, the first time in front of Liverpool fans, it was a really proud moment in my life and it gave me real motivation to keep improving, keep developing and give everything for this club.

What do you hope to achieve here at Liverpool yourself and as a team?

I know and I think everybody knows this club has big ambitions and I want to be part of such [a] journey.

Finally, do you have a message for the Liverpool supporters and Georgians reading this interview?

Yes, of course. I know the responsibilities that come with wearing this shirt. This badge means so much to so many people. I'm here just to give my best in every training session, every match to help the team and earn the trust of our fans. I'd like to speak a few words of Georgian. I want to sincerely thank all the Georgian fans. I'm proud to represent Georgia at this great club and I'll give my all to make you even prouder.