Quansah pictured (right) winning a header during this week's friendly game against Arsenal
Quansah pictured (right) winning a header during this week's friendly game against Arsenal
Asked if he has had time to process his rise, he says: 'I probably haven't realised it how everyone would have thought I'd realised. It has not been a realisation of how I've done so far but a realisation that I'm capable of playing at the level.
'And I can kick on much better. There are so many things I can look back on last year and improve on. There are so many goals that I need to achieve, that's the realisation.'
Quizzed on what exactly he needs to improve, he adds: 'I think you can figure it out yourself, I'm always looking at games back to see where I can improve. I'm not going to give anyone any secrets on what I'm working on.
'I'm still young, there's a lot to improve on. That's the best thing about it, I know I can be good at times but there's so much potential and I need to keep working hard to fulfil it.'
Quansah is a steady head with an excellent attitude. After joining the club aged five – his family are Manchester United fans – the defender has always shown a determination to learn that perhaps many kids do not possess.
Podcast
Last year, he asked Liverpool to provide him with drone footage and wide-angle shots of Van Dijk's defending. He spent hours poring over snaps of the Dutchman, but he also studied the likes of John Stones, Sergio Ramos and Leonardo Bonucci to see how they move off the ball.
He has also been described to 'go on a mad one' and study clips of South American defenders to study as many different types of players as he can. When injured, Matip was said to be influential in talking to Quansah and lecturing him on how to improve.
Speaking at an event at the Phillimore earlier this week, the defender said: 'Virgil is a Rolls-Royce. He's everything I want to be as a centre-back. I can take so much from him. I've learned so much, not just from Virg but from the entire backline.
'He's the best centre back in the world. Having a role model like that who I've always looked up to is massive for me.'
Former England boss Gareth Southgate was also a big fan of Quansah, to the point that he was asked to stick around and train with the group ahead of the European Championship even after the preliminary squad was trimmed.
'[The experience with England] was really good, I couldn't thank Gareth enough for that opportunity,' he adds. 'Just to be around the best players in the country and get that recognition of the season I've had was a good experience for me.'
0 Comments