LIVERPOOL STRIKER DARWIN Nunez admits he has found his adaptation to English football difficult but accepts part of that was self-inflicted.
The Uruguay international, a £64million (€75m) summer signing who could end up costing a club-record £85m (€100m), scored in his first two appearances but was then banned after foolishly getting himself sent off.
His red card against Crystal Palace after reacting to provocation by defender Joachim Andersen was particularly disruptive as a three-match ban left the forward effectively having to start from scratch.
He has failed to score in five appearances since his return but, on his first start since that dismissal, he put in an encouraging performance in the 2-0 Champions League win over Rangers.
“The truth is that it was a little difficult to adapt but I believe that, as training and games go by, I will adapt little by little,” he told TNT Sports Brasil.
“(After the red card) was a very tough time. I was suspended for three games, I know I made a big mistake and now I’m aware that it won’t happen again.
“I have to calm my nerves during the games, talk less. We all make mistakes and I know it will serve as a learning experience.
The important thing is to leave my mark on the team, someone who can always contribute by playing well and, if I don’t score, I have to be calm.
“When the first one goes in, more will go in. I’ve been through that (goal droughts) and it’s a little uncomfortable because, in the end, as forwards we live on goals.
“But I’m calm, the coach has always supported me. My team-mates also support me at all times and I will always try to help the team by scoring goals or, even without a goal, try to help the best I can.”
The language barrier has been something of an issue for the former Benfica striker, certainly in his discussions with manager Jurgen Klopp, and he has leant heavily on Portuguese-speaking assistant boss Pep Lijnders and Portugal native Vitor Matos, another member of the coaching staff.
Klopp and Lijnders spoke with Nunez at the weekend in an attempt to reassure him their faith was unwavering and he should not worry and the striker responded at Anfield.
“Well, we don’t talk much. I don’t know English and he (Klopp) doesn’t know Spanish,” he added.
“(Pep and Vitor) are the translators when Klopp talks to the group. They sit next to me and explain what I have to do.
“If they didn’t explain it to me, I’d enter the field with no idea what to do.
“But the relationship with the coach is that he supports me, gives me confidence and I have to repay that on the field.”
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Bit of jameson is good for that.
Played well last night. Only thing missing was a goal. Was the best of the 4 attacking players. No doubt the goals will come but hopefully sooner rather than later.
@James horgan: Thought he showed a lack of confidence last night. I remember a shot straight at the keeper where a calmer more confident player would have put it to either side of him & scored.
Overall the shots to score ratio was very poor last night & disappointing that there was no score from open play.
@TL55: totally agree, he should of had at least a brace last night but no confidence in his finishing. The whole team seems to lack a bit of confidence, Tsimikas, Fabinio and VVD look extremely low on confidence
@Niall Brady: Tsimikas has been one of our best players this season
Hopefully Nunez will start scoring soon, can be difficult to adapt to the pace and physicality of the PL for some players and then have to show Klopp you can play the way he wants. Plenty of Klopps new signings had to wait a while to earn their starting place (Fabinho & Robertson being 2). The comparisons to Haaland probably don’t help as he on a different level to most players. Nunez showed glimpses against Rangers that he can come good, just needs that first few goals to get his confidence up, against Arsenal would be a good time.
It’s a long way from him being a better signing than Haaland, like was being said after the Community Shield
Arsenal will come out and attach, being away that might lessen the expectation and might be more space than Anfield. If he could score it may settle him, relax when placing shots.