Liverpool supporters have already seen what Rio Ngumoha can do with a football at his feet. Now Andoni Iraola is giving us another reason to get excited about the teenager.
It isn’t just the dribbling, the confidence or the ability to take on defenders. It is what happens when the cameras are switched off and the attention moves elsewhere.
According to Iraola, Ngumoha is listening, learning and doing everything he can to improve.
“I found that for me, Rio is very coachable. He pays attention, he listens to every information we give,” the Liverpool head coach explained.
That might not be the headline-grabbing part of Ngumoha’s story, but for me, it is one of the most encouraging things we could hear about him.
The talent is obvious. The attitude could be what takes him to another level.
Ngumoha is keeping his feet on the ground
It is difficult to imagine many young footballers enjoying the kind of attention Ngumoha is receiving without feeling some pressure.
At just 18, he is already playing for Liverpool, representing England and producing performances that have supporters talking about his potential. Every time he takes a defender on, there is another clip doing the rounds on social media. Every good performance brings more praise and bigger expectations.
That can be a lot for any young player to deal with.
But Iraola believes Ngumoha is concentrating on the things that actually matter.
“He’s very focused on the football side, of improving his performances,” he said.
“It’s not easy when you are 18 and everyone is talking about you, but he knows that what matters is what is happening today in training.”
That is exactly the mentality Liverpool need from him.
There is no point getting carried away with the noise around him. He has plenty to learn, plenty to improve and a long career ahead of him if he continues on the right path.
The encouraging thing is that his manager believes he understands that.
Iraola could be the right coach for him
One of the things I like about Iraola is the importance he places on improving players rather than simply judging them on their latest performance.
Ngumoha is an exciting attacking talent, but he is still developing. His ability to beat opponents one-on-one is already a major weapon, and his performance against Villarreal showed how damaging he can be when he gets space to attack.
He produced two assists in Liverpool’s remarkable 4-3 Champions League comeback, helping turn a difficult night into a memorable victory.
But Iraola is not treating that performance as proof that Ngumoha has nothing left to learn. Quite the opposite.
The manager has spoken about the need for the teenager to keep improving, including the defensive side of his game and his ability to adapt to different positions.
That is important. Liverpool do not need to turn Ngumoha into a finished product overnight. They need to help him become a more complete footballer without taking away the fearless attitude that makes him so exciting.
And if he really is as willing to listen and learn as Iraola suggests, then the manager has something to work with.
Liverpool fans must give him time
I will be honest: it is hard not to get carried away when you watch Ngumoha take on defenders with that sort of confidence.
Liverpool have had plenty of talented young players over the years, but there is something special about a youngster who genuinely wants the ball when the pressure is on.
He does not appear frightened of making a mistake. He backs himself to beat his man, and that willingness to be positive can give Liverpool something different in attack.
However, supporters must remember that there will be difficult afternoons as well.
Defenders will study him. Opponents will try to double up on him. There will be matches when his tricks do not come off, when he loses possession or when he struggles to influence the game.
That is part of being a young footballer.
The last thing Liverpool need is to turn every quiet performance into a debate about whether Ngumoha is living up to the hype. He deserves the opportunity to develop without being expected to deliver something spectacular every time he steps onto the pitch.
Iraola appears to understand that balance: give him confidence, provide the coaching and let him continue to grow.
The future looks exciting
What stands out most from Iraola’s comments is that Ngumoha seems to have the right mindset to go with his natural ability.
He is receiving plenty of praise, but his focus remains on training and improving. That is a good sign for Liverpool, particularly when the attention surrounding him is only likely to increase if he continues producing performances like the one against Villarreal.
There is still a long way to go, and nobody should be putting unrealistic expectations on an 18-year-old. But there is every reason to be excited about what he might become.
Liverpool have a young winger who wants the ball, believes in himself and, according to his manager, is eager to learn.
The kid is locked in. And if Rio Ngumoha keeps that attitude while continuing to develop his game, Liverpool could have a very special player on their hands.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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