Coates: I have to be patient

Sebastian Coates accepts that he needs to be patient to establish himself as a star in English football.The 21-year-old scissor-kicked a goal of the season contender at Loftus Road last week in only his fourth league appearance since signing from Nacional in Uruguay in the summer. But with Liverpool currently third in the goals conceded table behind the two Manchester clubs, Coates knows places in the back four are hard to come by. He told the Official Matchday Programme: "I feel more settled now. As the months and the time goes by the period becomes a lot more easy. "I am enjoying the football and I know I have to be patient to play more games, purely because the other defenders have been so consistent for a long time. "That is the nature of defence. Especially in that position, when it is working, you don't change it. "I gained this attitude when Diego Godin had an injury before the Copa America and I got a chance. Because I did well, I stayed in the team. So you must respect your teammates when they perform. There can be no arguments." Coates trains every day alongside two international centre-backs, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, as well as Jamie Carragher, who has tallied an incredible 731 senior games for club and country since 1997. "It is a privilege to train and play with them," added the youngster. "Martin has been outstanding this season and is an example to me because he originally came from a completely different country with an alternate philosophy on football and has made himself a success. "During the sessions I watch all of my teammates closely because you can learn from any position, not just your own. "You see the central defenders at Liverpool and they all have attributes that are different. "Each one can defend properly, of course, but Danny is very good with the ball at his feet, Martin has the type of aggression any defender needs to succeed coming from abroad, while Carra is a leader - a communicator who has helped me a lot when we have played together." One player Coates was especially enthused about teaming up with upon signing for the Reds was club captain Steven Gerrard, who he grew up admiring. "His reputation is worldwide," added the centre-back. "When I was younger in Uruguay, I would see a lot of the Champions League games that Liverpool were involved in. "He was always so influential, putting in some fantastic performances. He is the kind of player that everybody hopes to one day call a teammate. It is an education to be on the same side as him."