Philippe Coutinho is trying to copy his way to stardom.
Coutinho told Liverpool FC’s official magazine Wednesday, that he watches videos of Ronaldinho and Kaka during his free time as part of a self-improvement regime. Coutinho also scrutinizes his own performances and seeks input from both his family and coaches in order to fulfill his potential for Liverpool and Brazil’s national team, according to LiverpoolFC.com.
“I am a football fanatic,” Coutinho said. “I love everything about it, both playing and watching. During my spare time, I try to watch as many games as possible.
“Or if I’m on the internet, I’ll be looking at videos of players such as Ronaldinho and studying the way he played. He is one of my heroes. Kaka, too.
“I try to do all I can on the training pitch to get better every day,” Continho continued. “I’ll watch DVDs of games and try to see where I did something wrong or could have made a better choice.
“I speak to the coaching staff and the manager, too. Or I’ll chat to my father or my wife about my game because advice from everyone can help.”
Coutinho once was one of Brazilian soccer’s hottest prospects, but his career appeared to stall when he left hometown club Vasco da Gama for Serie A (Italian first division) club Inter Milan in summer 2010. Coutinho struggled to make an impact with the Italian giant for two-and-a-half years before Liverpool bought him in January 2013.
Coutinho, 22, now is flourishing at Liverpool. The diminutive schemer is a key component in Liverpool’s attack and was voted the club’s Player of the Month for December 2014.
Coutinho earned a long-awaited recall to Brazil’s national team in August after a four-year absence. If Coutinho adds parts of Ronaldinho’s (FIFA’s World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005) and Kaka’s (FIFA’s World Player of the Year in 2007) games to his own and remains dedicated to personal improvement, he should star for club and country for years to come.
Thumbnail Photo via LiverpoolFC.com
