Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 8y

Cameroon's Joel Matip to miss African Nations Cup to focus on Liverpool

Joel Matip has revealed that he intends to miss the African Nations Cup with Cameroon in order to focus on the start of his Liverpool career.

Matip, who joined Liverpool in the summer on a free transfer from Bundesliga side Schalke, has not played for his country in over a year but is available for selection at the competition in Gabon between Jan. 14 and Feb. 5.

Cameroon manager Hugo Broos recently expressed his disappointment after the defender did not accept a call-up. But Matip does not want to interrupt his first season in the Premier League and believes the decision will ensure he is in the best shape possible for his new club.

"I would say at the moment I will be concentrating on Liverpool," Matip told the Daily Telegraph. "It is a long time until January so you never know, but that is the idea.

"Last year I had injury problems. The extra games and travelling were going to make it harder for me. I had to listen to my body and it told me that the international week was the right time to have a break.

"I spoke with the Cameroon manager and he was not happy, but I have to do what is right to be 100 percent and make sure I am not injured again, especially at an important time in my career starting at Liverpool."

Liverpool face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday with Matip expected to keep his place in the starting XI and come up against their fiery frontman, Diego Costa.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for the Chelsea striker at the prematch news conference but admitted that his defenders had to be aggressive in dealing with the Spain international.

"If an opponent tries to talk to me during the game, really, I don't give a f---," Matip continued. "They can say what they want.

"I don't think anyone is like Costa. You can play against players who like to make you uncomfortable, but not too many with his size or as famous as him.

"It is always a fight against these big teams and you have to take on the battle. You have to go in there and fight, there is nothing else. As a defender that is something you like -- to go out there and win the ball.

"But I don't prepare only for Costa. I prepare for the whole team. Maybe he will be my direct adversary and I will study to see how he moves. I have seen a lot of his games. But you can never prepare for one player out of 11."

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