Xherdan Shaqiri: squad competition makes you “better and stronger”

Xherdan Shaqiri is prepared to step up as soon as Jurgen Klopp is ready for him, according to the Echo.

Shaqiri arrived from Stoke City for £13million during the summer after Liverpool activated his release clause, and the diminutive Swiss international is gearing up to seize his chance in Klopp’s starting XI after the Liverpool manager recently suggested that he will rotate his squad for the upcoming Leicester match.

“The manager has brought a few players in this summer with very good quality who are going to help a lot,” said Shaqiri.

“This team needed a little competition in various positions because that makes you better and makes you stronger so I am looking forward to the season and we have started very well. I believe that I can play every position along the front line and the coach knows that.”

“I played every position in the friendlies: I played as a nine, I played as a 10 and I’ve played as a winger, although with the coach you don’t really have wingers as you change positions every time with one player going inside and another player going out.

“That’s really good and I like the football the way the coach plays. It is perfect football for me too.”

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Xherdan Shaqiri of Liverpool takes on the goalkeeper in the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham at Anfield on August 12, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Getty Images)

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Shaqiri has been encouraged by Liverpool’s fine start to the 2018/19 season. Speaking in Liverpool’s official matchday programme, he said:

“It’s always always important to make a good start for the fans. I think they are very excited now and I hope that we can keep going like this and have a really long good start.”

“I have known him (Klopp) for a long time from when I was playing in Germany, and I knew it was the right thing for me. I had a few options but this felt right.

“The fitness coach, Andreas (Kornmayer), was also with me at Bayern Munich too so I knew a little of his work and I also knew our nutritionist Mona (Nemmar) who came to Bayern later too.

“It’s always nice to have a few familiar faces around when you move to a new place of work.”

Shaqiri has been limited thus far to a cameo appearance against West Ham, and will be hoping for more game time on Saturday.

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Source: anfieldhq.com