HOSSAM JALAL

🚨🎙️ Jérémy Doku on what Enzo Maresca told him before coming on as a substitute against Liverpool: “Honestly, that conversation is something I will remember for a long time. The game was still 0-0 when the manager called me over and asked me a question I wasn’t expecting. He said, ‘What have you noticed about this game?’ “I looked at him and told him, ‘Boss, I can’t pretend I know more than you. You’re the coach, and you can see things I might not see. But the one thing I’ve noticed is that we’re struggling to break their defence down. And the noise from the crowd is unbelievable. They’re insulting us and constantly singing about the charges.’ “He looked at me and said something that has stayed with me ever since. He told me, ‘Jérémy, you’ve heard the noise. You’ve heard the insults. That’s exactly why we need to silence them. And looking at this game, I believe you’re the man who can do it. Go out there, attack them, be brave and do what you do best. Gravenberch is on a yellow card, so make him work. Everything will go as planned.’ “Honestly, those words gave me so much confidence. It reminded me of Pep Guardiola because one thing I’ve always admired about him is how much belief he gives his players. Sometimes, a manager doesn’t need to give you a long tactical lecture. He just needs to make you believe that you’re capable of changing the game. “So I went onto the pitch with that mentality. I wanted to take players on, create problems and give their defenders something to worry about. When Gravenberch got caught up in that situation, we looked at each other, and the manager gave me a little signal that basically said, ‘You’re the man.’ “Thankfully, everything worked out the way we wanted. But for me, the biggest thing wasn’t just the result. It was the confidence the manager showed in me before I even stepped onto the pitch. “Sometimes, as a footballer, the best thing you can ask for is a manager who reads the game properly, understands exactly what needs to change and trusts you enough to make that difference. When a manager gives you that kind of belief, you don’t want to disappoint him. You want to go out there and prove he was right to trust you.”