The defender is presently representing France at Euro 2024.
Ibhrahima Konate denied that Jurgen Klopp sacked him at the end of Liverpool’s 2023-24 season.
The centre-back fell out of Jurgen Klopp’s starting lineup near the conclusion of his stint. After suffering an injury before the March international break, Konate fell down the pecking order.
In seven of Liverpool’s final ten games, he was benched, including the last four. Jarell Quansah, who had a breakout season, was Virgil van Dijk’s preferred partner in the middle of defence.
Konate is currently on Euro 2024 duty with France and was an unused substitute in their 1-0 victory against Austria. Speaking to Le Monde, Konate argued that he was only left out of Liverpool’s starting lineup because there was little at stake – third place in the Premier League was already clinched – and that he would have spoken to Klopp otherwise.
“Demotion is not the right word,” Konate explained. “There was nothing at stake in Liverpool’s recent games. If that had been the case, I would have been in a different mood and would have spoken with the coach [Jürgen Klopp].
“But I’ve worked twice as hard on my own, in addition to my club training, to prepare for this Euro. Mentally, there is nothing to say. Physically, I’m still lacking some game time in my legs, but I’m not concerned.
Konate joins Liverpool for £36 million from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021. To date, he has made 90 appearances, helping the Reds win two Carabao Cups and the FA Cup, as well as finishing runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League in his debut season.
However, the 25-year-old has been plagued by injuries throughout his three years at Anfield. Konate confessed that his fitness concerns had made him psychologically strong, and joked that he could be the finest defender in the world if he didn’t have his problems.
“By telling myself that a career is short and that now is not the time to waver,” he stated. “Sometimes, when I’m laying in bed, I tell myself that if I hadn’t been injured, I’d have been a tremendously strong central defender, possibly the best one today [laughs]. But it’s all part of being a footballer. It does not prevent me from moving on; rather, it instills in me a steely determination. On the pitch and in my personal life.”
