'I play with a smile like my hero, Ronnie'
Philippe Coutinho is so determined to follow in the footsteps of his footballing idol, Ronaldinho, he's even taken to emulating the Brazilian playmaker's trademark smile.
Coutinho has dazzled with a stunning array of tricks and turns, dribbles and dinks, since arriving at Anfield from Inter Milan in January this year.
He'll be as willing as ever to weave his magic at White Hart Lane this afternoon when Liverpool lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur in the afternoon kick-off.
Tasked with restricting the 21-year-old's influence over the game is Spurs midfielder Sandro, who earlier this week paid Coutinho the ultimate compliment by comparing him to Ronaldinho.
"I would like to thank Sandro for what he said, but I'm a long way from what Ronaldinho has achieved," said Coutinho. "He is my idol, the player I have watched the most and tried to copy the most.
"I like to smile when I am playing because I try to show people that I am enjoying myself. Ronaldinho also did the same.
"I want to show that I have the same kind of personality and attitude to the game that my hero had."
Ronaldinho wore the No.10 shirt with distinction during his time at Paris Saint-Germain and then Barcelona, where the marauding showman scooped two La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups and the UEFA Champions League.
When Coutinho walked through the doors at Melwood at the start of 2013, and was told the iconic No.10 was available, it was therefore a no-brainer for the youngster.
"It was a natural fit for me," Coutinho explained. "It's a privilege. The link with the No.10 - in Brazil we had Zico and Pele but those two are a bit in the past for me.
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"No.10, for me, means Ronaldinho and it's a great honour to wear that number. It's what I wanted since I watched Ronaldinho play - so he is the idol for me, really."
Coutinho started out his career at one of Rio de Janeiro's most prestigious clubs, Vasco, before moving to Inter Milan and spending time on loan at Espanyol.
The playmaker insists he now feels at home in Liverpool - and explained how the process of adjusting to life on Merseyside has been eased by the family feel around Melwood.
"The team have treated me like one of the family," he said. "The people of Liverpool are as friendly as any Brazilians.
"They have a Brazilian way of dealing with relationships. It's a calm place and my wife and I enjoy it. Liverpool is very different to Milan or Rio because they are big cities. This is a much easier place to be."
