Recruited for 57 million euros, bonus included, Cody Gakpo knows the first difficult steps with Liverpool. An ignition delay that worries the coach of the Netherlands, Ronald Koeman.
24 games, 13 goals, 17 assists. Here is the rather exceptional record of Cody Gakpo (23) during the first part of the season with PSV. We must add his 3 goals in as many group matches in Qatar to measure the talent of the Dutch striker, considered one of his country’s greatest hopes.
But in football, the most difficult thing is to confirm. And it is clear that the young striker is still very far from being a safe bet.
Gakpo can’t find his marks
Long announced close to Manchester United, the Batavian finally took over the management of Liverpool against 42 million euros with 15 million euros in additional potential bonuses for the Eindhoven club. A standard transfer that the Oranje has already struggled to assume. Since his arrival, he has not managed to score or deliver any decisive pass in 6 games (for 6 starts). 497 minutes wander like a soul in pain.
To his credit, the collective of Jrgen Klopp has lost its luster since the Reds have lost 3 of their last 6 games with two heavy defeats against Brighton (3-0) and Wolverhampton (3-0). The player must nevertheless by his body language, mixing hesitation and tension. Back passes aplenty, difficulty getting rid of the opposing mark, inability to combine with his partners, the bad points accumulate for the no-Scouser.
Koeman regrets his choice
Will Gakpo succeed in raising the bar? Maybe. Has Gakpo chosen the best time to try his luck away from PSV, and moreover in a club that is not going well? Most certainly. And it is not Ronald Koeman who will be happy with his player’s situation. He found himself in a team that is not doing well. It’s more difficult for him, as a rookie judged the coach of the Netherlands on the YouTube channel of Andy van der Meyde.
You are tested right away. And if you don’t score or are not decisive and you don’t win any matches, it’s very difficult, especially for a young player. If it was someone 28 years old with experience, it would be different , ruminated the ex-coach of FC Barcelona. With a Mohamed Salah far from his best level and a Darwin Nuez on alternating current, it was difficult for Gakpo to find his feet in the line of attack. For how much longer ?
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