Liverpool’s elite development coach, Vitor Matos, was the club’s best signing of the season.
That’s the opinion of assistant boss Pep Lijnders.
Matos joined the club earlier this month from Porto, leaving his role at the Portuguese club’s second team.
Upon joining the Champions League holders, he took up the position previously held by Lijnders.
And Lijnders was full of praise for his new colleague, who will help bridge the gap between the youth teams and the first-team squad.
“For me, he is our best signing this season,” said Lijnders.
“He is a talented coach, a very intelligent coach. He can make the next step with all these young players.
“We have already seen the impact he has made on them.
“Having one really intelligent, talented coach for young players, he can inspire eight or nine of them – it’s really important to have the right people in front of them – he connects, he influences the boys on the pitch and trains with them.”
The 31-year-old previously worked with Lijnders at Porto, and the assistant boss told reporters about the full details of Matos’ new job.
“He connects departments, he connects our Academy, Alex (Inglethorpe) and Critch (Neil Critchley), with each other,” Lijnders continued.
“He connects me and Jurgen, of course.
“He connects (loan pathways and football partnerships manager) Julian Ward and (sporting director) Michael Edwards.
“He’s basically the connector of these three parts of the club.
“He is good. We are really happy he is here.