EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Philippe Coutinho

Diego Jokas 10:32 27/06/2015
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  • Filling the world: Coutinho and Brazil can step up in captain Neymar's absence.

    Philippe Coutinho was there last July when Brazil – World Cup hosts – were embarrassed 7-1 at the hands of Germany.

    It’s a result that still stalks both the Canarinho squad, management and supporters.

    But Coutinho wasn’t on the pitch, nor was he on the bench. He wasn’t even draped in a Brazilian tracksuit that night.

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    It’s with great bewilderment that the man nicknamed the “Little Magician” was omitted from Luiz Felipe Scolari’s World Cup squad.

    Yes, he had won just a single cap – questionable in itself – but his stunning form for Liverpool as they finished second in a scintilating Premier League title charge gave him genuine hope of a call-up.

    Instead, he watched that fateful semi-final in the stands but looking back it was a blessing in disguise.

    A year later and things have changed. Coutinho has been selected in every squad since, as returning boss Dunga continues his shake-up in an attempt to return Brazil to their former standing in the world game and he alongside others is the sign of a new era.

    The 22-year-old scored his first Brazil goal in a Copa America warm-up against Mexico and is set for a crucial role in Brazil’s tricky quarter-final tie against Paraguay.

    Just like in Rio, there will be no Neymar so how will Brazil cope without their creative genius and attacking inspiration? They dealt with it well in their must-win group game against Venezuela, and there will be no need for an inferiority complex from Brazil’s attacking midfielders come tonight either.

    Both Coutinho and new Liverpool counterpart Roberto Firmino will be out to prove they can fill the void and he sat down with Sport360 to discuss Anfield’s latest Brazilian recruit, how the Selecao will cope without Neymar and dealing with the pressure of a nation’s hope.

    This is your first major tournament with Brazil, how have you found the step up having been ignored by previous managers?
    I am just pleased to be playing now. Brazil have always had quality players, they always will have quality players, so it is never going to be easy to get in the squad. That is why I am so grateful every time I get to represent my country.

    With Neymar out of the side how does this benefit you as you’ve been used on primarily left-side and are you ready to fill that gap in the team?
    Neymar is one of the true great players in the world, we can’t pretend that he is not a big loss. We have good players in the squad though, and it is the responsibility of all of us to step up and try and offer some of what Neymar did.

    How do you assess your progress with the senior side? 
    I am happy, but I want to measure progress with success, so first we need to do well in this tournament.

    Has the experience of playing for a club like Liverpool helped you to deal with the demands of playing for Brazil?
    Both Brazil and Liverpool have had lots of success historically, so of course there is always pressure to succeed.

    That is what I want though to win trophies, so the pressure is no problem.

    Paraguay knocked Brazil out in the last-eight in 2011, what was your assessment of that defeat and how can you avoid a similar fate this time around?
    It is a very different team from 2011, so I don’t think we need to look so much in the past, but Paraguay is a good team.

    We must be organised in defence, and if we do that we know we can score goals.

    It was a difficult campaign at club level and you’ve headed straight into a major tournament, at Inter you suffered with injuries, what’s changed to allow you to deal with the physical demands?
    At Liverpool there is focus on not just one training solution is for everybody, but it is tailored to the individual player. That sort of care has really helped me.

    What qualities will new Liverpool signing and your Brazilian team-mate Roberto Firmino bring to England?
    He is a very intelligent player, and he is not just a scorer of goals, but a scorer of very important and big goals.

    What did you say to him about the club?
    We spoke, but Liverpool is the sort of club you do not need to say much about. Everybody knows how big the club is, how much success they have had, and what a special stadium Anfield is.

    With the likes of Steven Gerrard leaving Anfield, do you feel there is an extra burden on you to score more next season?
    I think it is a similar situation that Brazil has with Neymar. Nobody can replace Neymar and nobody can replace Steven, but it is the job of the other players to step up.

    You recently agreed a new deal with Liverpool despite a tough campaign for the club, what made you decide to sign an extension and was there any interest elsewhere?
    I have been progressing at Liverpool, the coach believes in me, the fans have been very good to me it was an easy decision to sign.

    Brendan Rodgers has described you as Liverpool’s ‘brain’ do you feel the club should sign another creative player to take some of the pressure off you?
    If the coach says that I look it as a compliment, but there are many good players at Liverpool and we all have to play our part to make sure this club is playing Champions League football again.

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