Liverpool boss Arne Slot praised Jarell Quansah for reacting well to the early season setback and earning an England call-up. New England manager Thomas Tuchel has named the 22-year-old in his squad for the upcoming March international break.
However, both the England international and his Liverpool boss Slot remain focused on the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United. The Reds suffered disappointment in the Champions League after Paris Saint-Germain eliminated them in the Round of 16 clash.
Furthermore, Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered an injury during the second-leg tie at Anfield on Tuesday. Centre-back Ibrahima Konate is also struggling with fitness, as Slot had to substitute him against PSG late in the game.
Liverpool immediately rejected Newcastle United's approach for Jarell Quansah, highlighting his importance.
Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah could play an important role for Arne Slot during the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via YouTube), Slot praised Quansah for his strong mentality to bounce back after early setbacks this season with Liverpool and for earning an England call-up. He said:
“It says a lot about his mentality. Last season I think everybody saw what a talent he is. Then this season started with him starting and I changed him as we all know against Ipswich. Ibou [Konate] and Virgil [van Dijk] were and are such a strong combination that he didn’t play a lot. But every time he had to play, except for maybe the first one or two games, but afterwards he had to play you could see that maybe he is no longer a talent because as a talent you don’t have any setbacks, but the moment you get setbacks it’s about you and how you react. I think he showed in his recent performances that he’s outgrown being called a talent. That’s probably what Thomas Tuchel saw and sees as well by giving him a call-up. He did really well the last few times he had to play for us and even in a position he’s not completely used to as a right full-back.”
Quansah played as the right-back in the absence of Conor Bradley due to injury after Alexander-Arnold got injured. The 22-year-old performed well despite facing a tough PSG attack at an unfamiliar position, showcasing his determination and quality.
The young Englishman enjoyed a good pre-season under the new head coach, Slot, but the situation changed early this season. Slot substituted Quansah in the first Premier League game of the season against Ipswich Town at half-time after he struggled to win duels.
The setback ignited rumours about Quansah’s future at the club, as the fickle social media only needs a few sparks. However, Quansah gradually regained the performance level that he showed last season under former manager Jurgen Klopp.
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The 22-year-old remains a vital part of the Liverpool squad, with hopes of him receiving more game time next season. Quansah’s mentality is a good inspiration for any young academy player as every player faces such adversity at some point in their respective career.