Dirk Kuyt has hailed the “great mentality” of South Americans like Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino for their ability to play through fatigue.
Kuyt has been renowned for his phenomenal fitness throughout his career, and the Dutchman became a hugely dependable player over the six years he was with Liverpool.
His boundless energy gave the Reds an edge in attack, and this has seen him endure into his late 30s, where he still plays regularly for Feyenoord.
As part of a Q&A with FourFourTwo this month, Kuyt was asked who worked the hardest among his Liverpool team-mates, and the forward struck upon a key asset for South American players.
“I definitely played with some guys who worked hard and were always there on the forefront,” he explained.
“Of course, Steven Gerrard worked tirelessly, but I also remember John Arne Riise always kept going too.
“What springs to mind most are South Americans, like Luis Suarez and Javier Mascherano, who trained and played straight after they had come back from an international on a Wednesday.
“We’d adapt training in order for them to join after they had just flown in.
“They were exhausted and had jetlag, but didn’t complain. That showed great mentality.”
Kuyt also lifted the lid on turning down Tottenham, convincing Liverpool to sign Suarez and how Peter Crouch almost cost him a place in the Champions League final in 2007.
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