Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate makes worrying injury admission after taking painkillers to play
Ibrahima Konate confirmed he has been taking painkillers since returning from injury at the beginning of January.
The French center-back missed all of Liverpool's games in December after sustaining a knee problem during the Champions League win over Real Madrid at the end of November.
Konate made his comeback in the 2-2 draw versus Manchester United in Liverpool's first game of the new year, and his return seemed timely after Joe Gomez had sustained a hamstring injury in the Reds' final match of 2024.
Konate was asked about how he was feeling in a press conference ahead of the Reds' Champions League game against Lille and gave a somewhat surprising response.
READ MORE: Arne Slot sets ambitious challenge for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool - 'That is the next step'
READ MORE: Arne Slot reveals Diogo Jota injury truth and sets timeline for Liverpool return
"I tried to come back 100 per cent but I am not because I rushed my comeback with my knee," Konate said. "I've done this for my team and I can die for this team. My knee will come back 100 per cent very soon, it's fine. I still have pain. I play with painkillers and it's enough for me to play. I don't have to think about this, I just have to play and this will go away."
The Frenchman was asked whether he had to convince the Reds' medical staff that he was fine to return but said that wasn't the case. "I was very close to coming back anyway," he added. "The plan was for me to train in this week [leading up to the Manchester United game], then when I saw Joe with this injury I was like 'OK, I have to come back quickly and not think about my knee.'
"The first game I felt it a little bit but the pain gets better day after day. It's fine, it's enough for me to play. The physios and the medical staff have done a great job for me. I spent I don't know many hours at the club every day when I was injured. I was very happy and I thanked them (the medical staff) with some cookies. They have done a very good job and they would never take a risk with me. I was ready to play. It's a little bit of pain but it's enough to play and be ready."
