Mateus Mane isn’t resting on his laurels after a positive full debut on Saturday, and is determined to kick on from here.
After a series of impressive cameos off the bench in recent weeks, the attacker was handed his first start in senior football at Liverpool on Saturday, and looked a threat through, twice testing Alisson in the home goal.
With another Premier League test around the corner at Old Trafford on Tuesday, the 18-year-old, who signed from Rochdale last year, will be hoping for another opportunity, and is now hungry to add goals and wins to his name.
On a full senior debut
“It felt good getting my first start in the Premier League. I feel like I deserved it with my hard work in training and when I’ve come on the pitch every game. I just kept working with my head down, I kept working and working, then the new manager came in and trusted me, and now I'm getting what deserved – game time.
“I found out the day before in a meeting that I was starting. I was buzzing. I told my family, then felt confident. At first there were a lot of nerves, but then after a bit you realise this is where you want to play, where you want to be.”
On showing his confidence
“I believe in myself, I have confidence in myself, that I deserve to be here and it’s where I want to be.
“I'm young now, but I’ve always played with older people, and being one versus one, that's what I love, to get at players. Whoever is in front of me, I'm not scared, I'll just drive.
“I feel like every time I want that first good touch, first good pass, and I’ll settle down, and I did that well. The shot I thought was going to go in, but obviously it was a good save.”
On playing for the fans
“They’ve been good. I like hearing my name getting sung, it gives me more confidence to keep going every day and try to get a win for the fans. Of course, it's been a bit down, but we work hard every day in training, out of training, in the gym, to try to get wins, and I feel like that's coming very soon.
“I’m going to work hard every day, keep doing what I'm doing, and hopefully that first goal comes. I want to get the team excited and keep going.”
On turning results around
“We need to start the game how we ended the game, and if we concede don’t let that get to us. Keep our head up, keep going, fight and try to get goals.
“It’s changed a lot under Rob. Everything's changed around the building. He pushes us every day to get the best out of us. We just need to get a win.”
