“We Have to go Again” – Ibou Konate Previews Liverpool’s Premier League Title Defence | OneFootball

Ibrahima Konate Sets the Tone for Liverpool’s Title Defence under Arne Slot

There is no room for complacency at Liverpool, not when you are champions of England. Ibrahima Konate has made that perfectly clear during the Reds’ pre-season tour of Asia. The French centre-back is under no illusions about the challenge ahead, insisting that the hard work must start now if Arne Slot’s side are to build on last season’s title-winning campaign.

Speaking after an intense training session in Tokyo, Konate shared the mentality driving the squad: “Last season we came back with a new manager and he had a very good idea and he said before the season started what we have to do to win the Premier League. We just followed what he said and at the end we had a good result for the club. I think this season will be more difficult.”

There’s no sugar-coating it. Defending a title in the Premier League requires more than momentum. It demands grit, focus and unity. “We were champions last season and it’s finished now, we have to go again and try to do something even better than last season. That’s why the pre-season is very important,” he said.

Photo: IMAGO

Hard Work in the Heat

The Liverpool squad are pushing through gruelling sessions in Japan’s sweltering heat, with a clear aim in mind: readiness. Every drop of sweat on the training pitch is an investment in August and beyond.

“For sure, we can see [that] in the training videos that everyone can see,” said Konate. “But I think this is very good for us and we need that. We need to train very hard for this season because I think every team wants to beat us – and we want to protect our trophy from last season as well.”

It’s not about glamour. It’s about groundwork. Under Slot, Liverpool have rediscovered an edge and Konate, a figure of both strength and assurance, is central to that mission.

Welcoming New Faces

With Hugo Ekitike joining the Reds from Eintracht Frankfurt, Konate has stepped up to help the newcomer find his feet. It’s part of the responsibility that comes with experience, and it’s one he embraces fully.

“Yes, yes, yes, for sure,” he said. “This is normal if you are older than someone who comes to the club, for sure you have to look after him. Help him to adapt if he needs anything in the city or in the club, just to be there for him. That’s what I’m doing with him.”

But it’s not just about one player. “We brought in some great players to this team but I don’t want to put some pressure on them,” Konate added. “We just have to give them the time to adapt because they don’t know the Premier League now. But I’m sure with this team, with how the people in the team are around them, this adaptation will be easy for sure.”

Mindset over Memories

For all the joy of lifting the Premier League trophy in May, Konate and Liverpool are firmly focused on what lies ahead. Slot’s influence has reshaped the club’s identity, bringing a fresh vision and hunger for more. And Konate, now entering his fifth season at Anfield, carries the voice of a player who understands that sustained success is forged long before the opening whistle of the campaign.