Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has rubbished claims that he performs well only in home games and goes missing during away games.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Wijnaldum refused to agree to those opinions stating that he doesn’t perform well in away games.
The claims started circling since the player’s time at Newcastle United, when he failed to score away from home, the whole of last season. Wijnaldum has struck 15 goals in 31 Premier League home games over two seasons, but is yet to register a strike in an away game in 32 matches.
Responding to the criticism, Wijnaldum said: “That is people’s opinion. I think I also play good in away games, especially this season, It is funny because last season we didn’t perform at a level as a whole team in away games for Newcastle but I was the only one who got the complaints.
It is a team thing and no-one can do it by themselves. People expect more from you than other players but we have to be realistic. If a whole team doesn’t perform you cannot pick one player especially and say ‘he doesn’t do this or do that’. It is a fault of the whole team if you don’t deliver.”
When asked about what difference it makes while facing big teams and small teams, he said:
“I think we must bring the same we bring against the bigger teams, If you look at the difference between the bigger and smaller teams the difference in concentration and being passive is big, that is my opinion.”
“Of course you can never guarantee you will win but you have more chance if you play against the small teams like you play the big ones. It is never guaranteed the next game will be an easy game. You have to work hard, give 100 percent and fight for the points.
We must have the same concentration we have now against the bigger teams otherwise, it will be difficult. We would make it easier if we also did it against the smaller teams.”
Wijnaldum has been in brilliant form for Liverpool this season and has settled in well under Jurgen Klopp.
