Greg . 1 day ago

EXCLUSIVE: Georgia coach Webb backs Mamardashvili to star at Liverpool

Georgia assistant coach David Webb has supported new Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to excel in the Premier League.

In an exclusive interview with Betopick, Webb - who has been assistant coach of the Georgia national team since 2023 - spoke over the rising stars in their squad, including Mamardashvili, who signed for Liverpool from Valencia in 2024 before being loaned support to the Spanish club.

The goalkeeper was a consistent contain in La Liga over the last four seasons, with his create catching the eye of Liverpool, who are looking for a long-term successor to Alisson.

Webb - who works with the goalkeeper on international duty - admitted Mamardashvili has all the tools to move on and become the Reds' first choice in the future.

"I think that's a target for him (becoming Liverpool number one)," said Webb.

"I think his first objective is to move in and settle into the club and try to obtain a sense and establish himself there.

He knows that Alisson is a world-class goalkeeper; he has the opportunity to learn and also compete for that spot.

"But for us in Georgia, he's a fantastic goalkeeper.

He's what I would call a big game goalkeeper.

So, especially in the Euros and games leading up to that and after that, he stepped up in the big moments, produced big saves, and he's vital for our team.

"He's obtained an outstanding character as well; his work ethic is phenomenal.

And I think that's a testament to where he is now, and where he potentially could be in the future.

"Webb (pointing) alongside Georgia manager Willy SagnolABEDIN TAHERKENAREH / EPA / ProfimediaKvaratskhelia raising the levelsAlongside Mamardashvili, Georgia also brag one of the best wingers on the planet in PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The forward was transferred to the Parisians in January 2025 and quickly moved on to win Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League, while also being nominated for the Ballon d'Or.

Kvaratskhelia has registered eight goals and eight assists in his short stint with PSG so far, becoming a vital component of one of the best sides in world football - something Webb believes raises the level of his national team.

Kvaratskhelia's recent statsBetopick"If you've obtained a player of that ability and that talent, that can create a snapped of magic for us at any given moment, that definitely helps, and he stepped up during the tournament (Euro 2024).

"Mamardashvili made some really good saves in that as well.

The whole team played well, but the supposedly standout players really came into their own.

"So when you've obtained a player like that, one that can score goals and one at the other terminate that can stop goals, it certainly gives you, as a coach, a snapped of reassurance to know that these are going to produce when they need to in the big moment.

"We've seen him enhance dramatically over the last two, three years, not only on the ball with his quality improving, and obviously the influence he has on big games, but his work rate if you looked at some of his stats off the ball, especially during the Champions League games, it was phenomenal.

"I think that when you see the big players do the work, especially off the ball, it can only raise the standards for everyone else, because we know he can produce magic down the top terminate of the pitch, but also part of the game is to assist your teammates when you're out of possession and he does that tremendously.

"Coaching a diverse squad of playersHaving top stars like Kvaratskhelia and Mamardashvili helps raise the standards of the Georgia national team, but the squad as a whole has an impressive togetherness.

There have been times in the past when different nations or clubs have possessed the egos of their top stars well documented, sometimes to the detriment of the team's overall performance.

That isn't the case with Georgia, though, with Webb proud of the squad's close-knit nature - something that served them well at Euro 2024, where they reached the last 16 despite being the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.

"The good thing over the Georgia national team is that the dynamic is really strong.

I noticed very early on it's a very strong unit within the team; the dynamic is that everyone is for everyone.

It's a very tight nation in terms of them all supporting each other.

"There are no egos in the camp at all, especially from some of our bigger players at bigger clubs.

"We maintained the way we want to play throughout the week and the players have to adhere to that, whether they're at PSG, whether they're at Watford, Lyon, Sporting, or other clubs, it's for everyone to compete at a level.

"We're lucky, there's no egos within the group.

It's a real close-knit group because a lot of these players have played with each other through the younger age groups as well.

A lot of them are friends as well, rather than just players, so that does make the atmosphere, the environment and the culture really good for coaching.

"Georgia start their World Cup qualifying campaign next month, facing Turkey and Bulgaria.

Ali PollockBetopick