Jurgen Klopp made Fabinho wait for his chance to be a regular in his Liverpool side, similar to what he has done in the past with now influential player Andy Robertson and the returning Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Used mainly as a substitute until late October, the Brazilian says he owes a lot of thanks to teammate Sadio Mane, who helped him believe in himself and become a better player.
Speaking about his first season in England to the club’s official website, as cited on the Mirror, the midfielder said:
Off the pitch I chat with him quite a bit as we both speak French, my French is still better than my English. He’s a great lad. Sadio has been a really important player for us this season.
Fabinho knew his first season in the Premier League would be a learning curve due to the physicality of English football, but appreciates that as the season went on he became a more important part of the team and adapted more to Klopp’s style of play.
I gave the manager another option he could depend upon. So I think it was a really good season.
Mane has been praised as the ‘complete player’ by Fabinho who has said he gives other teammates confidence and a different option in attack with his variety of runs and movement, as well as being a welcoming character in the dressing room.
