Fringe Liverpool man hoping to revive Reds career after frustrating season
Xherdan Shaqiri has admitted that he was “frustrated” by not playing much last season, but is hoping to feature much more in the upcoming campaign.
Injuries limited Shaqiri to just 11 appearances and one goal in all competitions in 2019/20.
The signing of Takumi Minamino also provided him with more competition for places in the Liverpool side.
It has been suggested the Swiss star could be sold this summer as he looks for regular game time. Fenerbache has been touted as a potential destination.
But he has suggested he plans to stay and fight for his place in Jurgen Klopp’s side. Speaking to the official Liverpool website (via the Liverpool Echo) Shaqiri said: “Always if you are injured or if you are not playing, you’re frustrated.
“But I’m looking forward to this season and trying to help the team all the time, so I have the chance to play like the first season.
“As a team, I just want us to achieve a lot of things. I think we have a lot of good players in our team. Everyone can play and we try to make it very difficult for the coach as always.
“I’m trying to give my best too and to help the team to win games, titles. That’s the most important thing for me.”
Shaqiri expecting “exciting” season
The 28-year-old also looked ahead to the 2020/21 campaign, in which the Reds will look to defend their title.
They strolled to their first top flight success since 1990 last term, but will likely face much tougher competition this time around.
And Shaqiri says that although they are aware it will be a tough challenge, the Liverpool squad are already looking forward to the action getting back underway.
“Everybody is excited to play again and to defend the season we had last season,” he continued.
“It’s very difficult but we try to achieve again a lot of things and we want to win a lot of games. We have the capacity, we have the team who is still hungry and wants to win many titles.
“Of course it’s different in the Premier League than others, and I had the pleasure and I’m very proud of what I achieved in Germany with these two [titles] and I know many countries now.
“But with Liverpool, to win the title last season was unbelievable, something different after 30 years for the fans and for us too.
“We are really excited and we always want to win every game but we know it’s going to also be difficult. The other teams also want to win, so I think it’s going to be an exciting season.”