InterviewIbrahima Konate: We have to be prepared to go again this season
Liverpool are determined to improve upon last season and ‘go again’ as Premier League champions, explained Ibrahima Konate.
The Reds squad are hard at work in humid temperatures in Asia, with Japan their current base after almost a week of pre-season preparations in Hong Kong.
The target of their efforts is August and being ready for a new campaign that Konate – who featured in 42 games in 2024-25 – expects to be an increased challenge on last term.
He told Liverpoolfc.com following Monday’s afternoon training session in Tokyo: “Last season we came back with a new manager and he had a very good idea and he said before the season started what we have to do to win the Premier League.
“We just followed what he said and at the end we had a good result for the club. I think this season will be more difficult.
“Because for sure we are happy and we don’t have to forget last season, but we have to take the good parts of last season as well as the bad parts where we did not really great and work on that.
“We were champions last season and it’s finished now, we have to go again and try to do something even better than last season. That’s why the pre-season is very important.
“I know it’s very difficult for everyone but we need these tough sessions to be ready for the season.”
On the testing nature of the ongoing build-up to the new season, Konate said: “For sure, we can see [that] in the training videos that everyone can see.
“But I think this is very good for us and we need that. We need to train very hard for this season because I think every team wants to beat us – and we want to protect our trophy from last season as well.
“Then we need to work in these hard conditions with this hard weather. Just to be ready for the season because the season will be very difficult.”
The No.5 is heading towards his fifth campaign with the club since joining from RB Leipzig back in the summer of 2021.
By contrast, his French compatriot Hugo Ekitike is in the infancy of his Liverpool career having sealed a move from Eintracht Frankfurt just days ago.
Konate is ready to be of any support to the Reds’ newest recruit as he settles in to a different environment.
“Yes, yes, yes, for sure,” he said. “This is normal if you are older than someone who comes to the club, for sure you have to look after him.
“Help him to adapt if he needs anything in the city or in the club, just to be there for him. That’s what I’m doing with him.
“It’s not only me. For sure you have some people who are more leaders than other players, but we are here for every new player to help them.”
And that sentiment goes for all of the players who have been added to the champions’ squad over the summer, with Konate certain the dressing-room culture is ideal for the purpose.
The defender said: “We brought in some great players to this team but I don’t want to put some pressure on them.
“We just have to give them the time to adapt because they don’t know the Premier League now. But I’m sure with this team, with how the people in the team are around them, this adaptation will be easy for sure.
“We have to train very hard to be ready because the Premier League is very difficult.”