Jordon Ibe admits he has to man up after letting himself down with ‘poor’ form following £15m Bournemouth switch
Cherries record signing says he has to 'buck up' his ideas after failing to impress after his move from Liverpool
JORDON IBE has confessed he has to man up and justify his £15million Bournemouth price tag.
In a brutally honest interview, the former Liverpool winger, 21, admitted he was not “good enough” last season.
He was a constant threat to the Italians in Sunday’s 2-2 friendly draw at the Vitality Stadium.
Boss Eddie Howe broke the club record fee to sign the England Under-21 star last summer.
Jurgen Klopp insisted Liverpool had a buy-back and sell-on clause in expectation of Ibe taking the south coast by storm.
But he made only 22 appearances, failing to score, and was the victim of a knife robbery when four men stole his £25,000 watch in London’s Surrey Quays.
Ibe said: “Last season I was poor and didn’t even get a goal.
“It’s time for me to buck up my ideas because I want to help the team and get some goals.
“I know Eddie Howe put a lot of trust in bringing me here for that price tag.
“I have a lot to prove to this club and, hopefully, I can be ten times better than last season.”
Although Ibe cannot put his finger on exactly what has gone wrong, he refuses to attach any blame to his hefty transfer fee.
He added: “I have not been affected by it at all. The price just came with it.
“I just want to play football. I’m still young and have lots to learn.
“I don’t know why it’s happened. I don’t know if it’s my age, maybe my head wasn’t in the right place.
“I don’t really have an answer for that. I just know it wasn’t as good as it should have been.
“The senior players here and the rest of the team are helping me, especially the coaching staff.
“I’m just trying to build as a footballer and get back to where I think me and the team can be.
“We will have to wait and see if I’ve improved when the season starts. I have had a better pre-season and hopefully I can help the team get into the Europa League.
“I’m hoping the fans will see the real Jordon Ibe this season. I’ve got a lot to prove.”
But the Serie A side are reluctant to sell the £20m-rated Brazilian-born Italy international.
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