As Liverpool gear up for the run-in, Ibrahima Konate is urging patience from fans, but his reason does little to inspire confidence.
The Frenchman has been one of the main culprits when things haven’t gone well for Liverpool this season — and that has been most of the campaign.
Konate has been heavily linked to Real Madrid with his contract expiring in the summer, but is focusing on his current club for at least the next few weeks. He attempts to temper expectations by recalling Liverpool’s Europa League campaign two years ago.
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Ibrahima Konate reminds Liverpool fans of past struggles
Konate’s overall message was positive. He urged patience from Liverpool fans despite the results, but it was his use of the Europa League to do so that won’t go down all that well.
Speaking to ESPN while on international duty, he says: “Now we bring in new players, of course they will not perform straight from the first game. This is what I’ve said to many, I said we just have to be relaxed because this is part of the success.
“We bring new players, we will adapt, we will try to understand each other and at a point, with time, we will win a trophy. We will have success and when we win the Premier League or Champions League, people will forget every bad season we had because now we won the league last season.”
He’s not wrong. Football fans have short memories, and trophies are what is remembered. But his attempt to foster hope by recalling another disappointing campaign misses the mark.
Ibrahima Konate during Galatasaray AS v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg
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Konate remarks: “Two years before we played Europa League, but people don’t talk about this any more. This is just part of the success and we have to be relaxed because we have amazing fans, we have to stay together, and the success will come for sure. Maybe this season, or maybe in the future.”
We all remember that season playing in Europe’s second tier. It’s not a terrible idea to bring it up as a way of adding context to the struggles of this season, but missing the Champions League wasn’t tolerated then, it was criticised heavily.
The same is true now.
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One potential positive to take from his comments is that he is talking about the future. Now, caution is needed there. Countless players have talked about long-term ambitions at a club only to move on months, or even weeks later.
Liverpool would prefer to keep Konate beyond this season, but that decision ultimately lies with him.
If he is to stay at Anfield, he will need to realise that a Europa League finish is completely unacceptable, regardless of what has happened in the past.
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