Never knew, football is this great: English midfielder Curtis Jones

Having been a part of the Liverpool system for years, 24-year-old English midfielder Curtis Jones believes that grabbing the right opportunity at the right age has been key to maintaining his momentum.

Speaking at the JioHotstar interaction centre (yet to be telecast), Jones said that there was no clear plan to play football "seriously" when he was younger — he simply loved the game.

“I feel I was so in love with the game from a kid that I didn't really care, or I didn't really know if I was good or not. I just wanted to have a ball at my feet. I never really cared if I was out on the pitch and I didn't really care who was inside the stands or if a director of the club was there, and they were going to watch the games and such,” said Jones. “I feel that's the important thing now with kids and parents and that I feel that they have to understand that you can't force your kids to go and play or she has to want to go and play. I feel that was always me from a kid and I never really knew how good I was until probably 16,” he added, while talking at the JioHotstar interaction centre, which is yet to be telecasted.

The former Premier League champion, Jones talked about legend Steven Gerrard, who became his under 18’s coach. “Although he was my coach and my idol, the relationship we gained was like a friendship group. He basically just sat me down and was as honest as he could be. And I feel that that's when I went to the next step. I remember the very first talk that we had wasn't great. And I don't say it wasn't great in a way that it didn't help me, but how he spoke to me. He was brutally honest. He was loud. He had a little bit of a go at me,” he shared. While talking about the wait before playing again in the Premier League, starting from August 16. “I've got the mind frame. I've got the ability. I have to make sure that I keep the trust of the staff and gain even more. I'm always there. I show it every day. You can ask any of the lads, I show every day. I work hard. I'm always one of the first in the gym, and I’m always one of the last out.”

While clearing the air about being given six-week off instead of desired four, when coach Arne Slot was appointed, he added, “I just felt everybody had a fresh slate. There's not going to be any favourites or anything like that because he has to go off of what he sees. I just thought that the sooner I’m back then the more time that I get to spend with him and the more time he gets to see me. This year I’ve played as a striker and as a number 10 and number 8 and number 6. I played as a fullback, I played off the left and although I want to play as a 10 or an 8, I want to stamp my mark there and stay there. I feel that it's also good that it shows how much that he trusts me, and how good that he knows that I am, that no matter where he plays me, I can go and do a job.”