Ibrahima Konate has revealed his determination to feature at the forthcoming World Cup - while claiming he could end his career at Liverpool.
Konate was on the bench for the Reds in their Champions League win over Rangers on Tuesday, his first involvement in a matchday squad since injuring his knee during the final pre-season friendly at home to Strasbourg back in late July.
The centre-back, signed for £36million from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021, followed an impressive debut campaign at Liverpool by winning his first senior caps for France in their UEFA Nations League games against Austria and Croatia in June.
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And with less than six weeks until squads for next month's World Cup must be confirmed, Konate hasn't given up hope of impressing sufficiently with the Reds to earn his place at Qatar.
“I am thinking ardently of the World Cup, and even more so because I was injured for two months," said Konate. "I'm coming back so I have to do twice as much as I haven't started the season. Obviously the World Cup is in my head, it's a goal and a dream.
"If I don't go to the World Cup, I will put this step in a 'fail' box. And this failure will give me strength to progress even more. I will do everything to find my best level, win matches with Liverpool and perform well to readjust this start to the season. And obviously I will do everything to be at the World Cup."
Despite being available for all bar two games last season, Konate started just 11 times in the Premier League. However, he became an increasing regular in the Champions League and FA Cup, starting the finals of both competitions.
And while the 23-year-old has featured just 14 times at Anfield to date, he has no doubt about the power of playing at the stadium.
"When you arrive at Anfield, you discover a different energy," said Konate. "It's an incredible feeling. I have listened to many testimonies. One day, Thierry Henry said on television that he would have liked to play in Liverpool. Arsene Wenger and many other great managers have said that Anfield is an extraordinary stadium. I live it as a player, it's real.
"Today I am at Liverpool, and the truth is, I hardly see a superior club. When you are here, you have everything: a great club, a great history, always in the running to win the Champions League, the Premier League and all the trophies with magnificent supporters.
"I'm 23 and it's a club where I could end my career. This club is among the top three clubs in the world. But you also need quality to finish your career here!"
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with French magazine Onze Mondial, Konate also detailed how he was initially taken aback by the managerial approach of Jurgen Klopp.
"The energy he brings to his pre-match chats is exceptional," he said. "Today, I'm used to it, but at first it was striking. It conveys something that I couldn't explain.
"He likes to tell stories. He likes to laugh, but once on the pitch, it's over. One day, we were delirious in the hallway of the training centre on our way to the pitch and we did not stop when we arrived on the grass. And suddenly he turned around and said to us: 'Why are you still laughing? We're on the pitch, it's over now!'. Everyone calmed down."
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