InterviewKostas Tsimikas: Everybody is hungry for the rest of the season
Kostas Tsimikas explained how every player in the Liverpool squad is hungry for success ahead of the season's restart.
The Reds travel to face Manchester City on December 22 in the Carabao Cup fourth round to kick off their switch back to domestic action.
Jürgen Klopp's men are currently undertaking a warm-weather training camp in the United Arab Emirates, which will see them play their final fixture of the Dubai Super Cup against AC Milan on Friday.
Tsimikas has been pleased by the work he has seen from his teammates amid the ongoing World Cup hiatus, and is optimistic about improving upon the season's results to date.
"It's a frustration because we lost many games we didn't want to lose," Tsimikas told Liverpoolfc.com. "That's why everybody – from the boys who train here – give absolutely everything.
"We want to be on the highest level we can be. So, of course, [it] was [a] frustrating start, but it's not the point.
"The point is if we want to achieve our goals, we have to be 100 per cent there and to win football games."
The full-back added: "To be honest, we had a very tough programme. Even when we had the break, every player here came [back] very good physically.
"We have to work – we do every day. Every single day we work very hard. I can see from the boys, everybody is hungry for the rest of the season. I'm really looking forward to the next games."
Read on for the rest of the interview with the No.21...
Inside Training: Nunez returns and finishing session on Tuesday
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On how he has found the training camp in Dubai...
It's unbelievable – it's good weather, as you see. Always I feel glad when I meet the boys after the break. I'm very happy to be back with the team. Obviously we want to play good to win the games, we want to continue as we finished before the break. We are here to train hard and to continue.
On whether the squad misses each other when they are away...
Yes, of course. Always I miss my teammates because I spend more time [with them] than my family because we spend a lot of time in the AXA Training Centre, or when we have games or before the games we go to the hotels. We spend a lot of time [together]. So yeah, I missed them a lot.
On his bubbly nature and the squad's praise for his character...
Yeah, it's my character, it's my personality. I like [it] when I'm with someone [and] I like to make him feel comfortable with me. So, I like [it] when I make him smile – this is the most important thing for me and to spend a good time together.
On wanting to be a good footballer but also a good teammate...
Yes, of course. We play football for one [or] two hours. The rest of the hours we are together. You have to be always smiley because, to be honest, we have everything in the team. So, give me a reason [to not] be happy or smiling!
On his recent holiday with Harvey Elliott...
We [don't] talk that much [about] football. He's a great guy. He's my good friend here in the club, so I really enjoy every minute I'm with him and we speak [about] everything. I really love him as a person and, of course, as a football player.
On the tactical work being put in during the training camp...
Yeah, we work on a lot of things. We had to improve because the year started not so good for us, so we had to improve almost in everything. That's why when you do the training you prepare yourself for the next games. Of course, we need to start winning the friendly games so when we play with City we make sure the team is going to be 100 per cent ready.
On the upcoming Man City clash and wanting to restart the season well...
It's very important for us. We have to be 100 per cent ready. We play against a tough opponent and tough challenge for us, so we have to be ready. We are Liverpool. Nothing is easy for us and for them also. So, it's going to be a very good game for both of us. A win gives you an extra boost. To be honest, we have to see every single game differently. If we want to achieve our goals, we have to win football games, we have to be 100 per cent there and we have to be 100 per cent focused [and] we have to win every challenge.
On the positive results before the mid-season break...
Of course, we can win a lot of things. We are in every competition, so why not? We believed last year when Man City was 14 points ahead of us, so why not now? We have to believe in what we can do. We are exactly the same like last year. We were there, we won two cups, we were in the Champions League final [and] we finished second in the league. If we believe, we can do a lot of things.
