Dejan Lovren: We'll stay hungry, we want to grow as a team
Dejan Lovren is certain the current Liverpool team can reach greater heights in the years to come.
During the past 12 months Jürgen Klopp’s side have responded to a Champions League final defeat and second-placed Premier League finish with 97 points by adding a European Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to the Reds’ honours list.
They had also racked up a 25-point lead before the Premier League season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sending a series of records tumbling along the way.
Lovren has witnessed the entirety of the gradual evolution under Klopp, and he believes the make-up of the squad – and the desire within it – means progress will not stop yet.
“It’s a learning process,” the defender told Liverpoolfc.com.
“The core of the team is here, starting from the manager – he did a great job here from the beginning. He showed everyone that he has the abilities and the skills and he knows how to manage the team in bad moments and in good moments.
“We didn’t stop work, that’s the main point – we stayed hungry. This is what he brought to us. We are always hungry and will stay hungry.
“Once you try a good meal, you want to try it again – you don’t stop. This is what is pushing us. We want to show to everyone what we are capable of.”
Lovren, who has now been at Anfield for almost six years, continued: “It’s important to have a mix between really young players, the middle [age] players and the experienced players. I think we have it, this is the great balance.
“We are used to playing big finals and the big games and we know how to manage it. Even when we are 1-0 down we know what to do. This is why it’s important to have a balance in the team.
“If we keep the important players and the core of the team here for many years, we will only grow.”
Liverpool’s objectives are currently paused as the world deals with the coronavirus outbreak.
With matches postponed, Lovren and his teammates are maintaining their fitness levels by following individual training programmes from home to observe the government’s social distancing guidelines.
And the Croatia international sent a message of positivity to supporters at this uncertain time.
“It’s a tough moment for everyone,” said Lovren of the situation. “It’s not an easy moment for us personally; we are not used to it, nobody was used to this and nobody was prepared.
“The only thing we can do is stay at home and listen to the advice of the government to reduce the problems even more. Everyone knows how the NHS is working hard for us, so we should appreciate the people on the frontline.
“Stay home and stay positive, stay healthy because we need to keep our nerves. Of course, there will be a moment when everything will come back together as normal. Stay positive, that’s what I would say to the fans.”