Topic: Dejan Lovren

[JP!]

All the best Dejan.

Club has done well out of you, I'd say.

[lamonti]

I think one of the main things you can take out of this exit is that Dejan is a really fucking sound lad. Best of luck to the Big Dog.

[tornado]

All the best Dejan...

[masher]

Loved him as a person and a character. Despite his bad days he was quality on a lot of occasions and and gave it his all. Good luck Degsy.

[redbyrdz]

Good luck Dejan, and thanks for the six great years! Perfect time to leave as a Champion of Everywhere.



Think a lot if people underestimate what he brought to the team, even more as a team mate, than as a player. Not really a reason for him to stick around, but he was clearly well luked vy everyone, and that is a good attribute to have too.

[dudek05]

Good luck Dejan. That is two of our feeder club players gone in two days. We need 4 first team quality centre backs Klopp's plan should unfold soon as to who replaces Dejan.

[elsewhere]

good luck Dejan!

[Haggis36]

He (perhaps understandably) polarised opinion, but leaving debates about his quality aside you can guarantee that he never hid, and he never gave anything less than his all whilst wearing the shirt. At the end of the day, there's not much more you can ask from a player.

Hope he wins a few more medals in Russia to go alongside his PL and CL medals!

[redgriffin73]

I love it that on the title celebration videos you can hear him 'singing' YNWA way before the camera pans down to where he is.  You can see a few of the players were holding back a bit - I remember being the same when I first joined in many, many years ago - but Lovren was belting it out like a seasoned Kopite!

I loved that too - he was the same when they sang it after Barca last season!

[bornandbRED]

Think he was a pretty good CB on his day. Unfortunately that first season was difficult to banish from the memory whenever he made an error in his later years with us. Still left us with some great moments - don’t think I’ve celebrated a goal harder than when he headers in vs Dortmund. Monstrous performance in Kiev too - he was probably our MOTM that night.

All the best, Dejan. With the silverware he’s now won, no doubt he’ll be looked upon favourably in the history books.

[Fordy]

Once again he will be missed.

Leaves a legend...Wish him all the best.

[Mighty_Red]

Brilliant at his best, but also awful at his worst. There's still tons of moments for us to remember Lovren by, with that Dortmund header probably the highlight.

Best of luck Degsy on your new adventure at Zenit!

[darragh85]

lovren was either very good or awful but mostly very good and contributed over the past few years. hope he has success at Zenit.

[Dave Mc]

Best of luck, Dejan. You were excellent in many important games this season, and as well as being an English, European and World Club Champion, you will always be the man that scored that legendary winner against Dortmund.

[Black Bull Nova]

His celebrations in Madrid whilst playing no part in the final summed up his character and love for the club

[Fordy]

His celebrations in Madrid whilst playing no part in the final summed up his character and love for the club

All the squad players play a part. Play or not. That is why all the squad got a medal and why we are Champions of Europe, Champions of the World and Champions of England.

[damomad]

I thought he was rock solid for us when he came in for us in the early part of the season, both him and Adrian played a large part in us running away with it so quickly. It's a good move for him, he really should be playing more regularly at this stage of his career. Glad he's left us with plenty of medals in the bag.

[Scarlet`]

Loved his bromance with Salah!  All the best!

[Dim Glas]

Dejan Lovren talking about Jürgen Klopp:

"He changed our mentality, he changed our work ethic, he changed a lot.

Not just football-wise; he also changed things around the club, he got the belief from the supporters and even in bad moments fans were sticking around always. It’s great to see that.

I just cannot thank Jürgen enough for his support, he supported me not just in football, he supported me around my personal life. And I will never forget that.

I had many problems and only he knew the problems. He was like a friend for me, like a dad, who I could come to and say all the problems."

And about Mo Salah and the farewell message he left for him, and everyone at the club:

“Yeah, I saw it. I don’t want to show too many emotions because I’ve already been crying before the last game.

They saw that I felt the emotions. Especially also leaving Mo, my good friend.

It was something special but like I always said, it’s just the beginning of a big friendship, even when we’ll be far apart.

He knows he can always call me for whatever reason, I’m always here for him.

It’s not just Mo, it’s all the people at the club – the staff, medical staff.

We’ve been like a big family, and this is why Liverpool is so big: because we care for each other.

I wish everyone good luck and I want that they stay healthy. We will always be in touch.”

From here

[jillcwhomever]

Dejan Lovren talking about Jürgen Klopp:

"He changed our mentality, he changed our work ethic, he changed a lot.

Not just football-wise; he also changed things around the club, he got the belief from the supporters and even in bad moments fans were sticking around always. It’s great to see that.

I just cannot thank Jürgen enough for his support, he supported me not just in football, he supported me around my personal life. And I will never forget that.

I had many problems and only he knew the problems. He was like a friend for me, like a dad, who I could come to and say all the problems."

And about Mo Salah and the farewell message he left for him, and everyone at the club:

“Yeah, I saw it. I don’t want to show too many emotions because I’ve already been crying before the last game.

They saw that I felt the emotions. Especially also leaving Mo, my good friend.

It was something special but like I always said, it’s just the beginning of a big friendship, even when we’ll be far apart.

He knows he can always call me for whatever reason, I’m always here for him.

It’s not just Mo, it’s all the people at the club – the staff, medical staff.

We’ve been like a big family, and this is why Liverpool is so big: because we care for each other.

I wish everyone good luck and I want that they stay healthy. We will always be in touch.”

From here

What really classy comments there from Dejan. Well in, lad. 

[redgriffin73]

Lovely interview, especially the stuff about Jurgen and the team.

This is the whole thing from the official (video and text interview):

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/403856-dejan-lovren-interview-i-have-no-regrets-i-m-proud-of-what-we-achieved

This must be an emotional time for you and an emotional few days – how are you feeling at the moment?

Yeah, like all these six years, it was emotional from the beginning until the end. The last couple of days especially now, I was feeling happy winning the Premier League with the team. On the other hand, I was feeling sad I’m leaving a big, big club with so many memories in my heart which I will keep forever. But I can be proud of everything I achieved with the club. I came [here] like a boy at 24, 25 with hopes and dreams to achieve something big at the club. I always said to myself, ‘I need to bring something back home and bring people happiness.’ At the end, I can say we made it together. That was a big journey for me that I will always carry forever in my heart.

How were your final few days at Melwood? Did you get chance to say goodbye to everyone properly?

Yes [but] I couldn’t catch the people from Melwood, unfortunately – people in the kitchen and people around. We didn’t see each other for a long time because of COVID-19. But I had the opportunity to say goodbye to every player and the coaching staff. It’s sad, you know. But I made a lot of friends there and I told them today Liverpool have one more supporter and he’s from Croatia.

What’s the mental process of a decision like this one you’ve taken? You’ll obviously have your reasons for wanting a new challenge but you’re leaving a club you’re so used to after six years, the Premier League champions and world champions. What are the pros and cons and balancing you’ve had to go through?

It was a big decision in my life, in the end. I have kids who are going to school there, I made a lot of friends in Liverpool and I’m not the type of player who wants to change every couple of years [to] somewhere else. But it was a decision that I took with an open heart and a clear mind. It was tough. But I think it was the right decision to go [out] on the top and look later on and tell myself it’s a good decision. I think I gave everything for the club, I don’t know if I could maybe give much more; I always gave everything, 100 per cent on the pitch. I have no regrets for anything that happened, even with some mistakes, with tears, with bad moments, bad games – everything happened for a reason. And it just made it even better now. So, I think I can be proud of everything.

There have been some lovely tributes to you from everyone at Liverpool, not least from your good friend Mo Salah. He has spent a lot of time winding you up but he says he loves you and you can really see he means it in that message he sent you…

Yeah, I saw it. I don’t want to show too many emotions because I’ve already been crying before the last game. They saw that I felt the emotions. Especially also leaving Mo, my good friend. It was something special but like I always said, it’s just the beginning of a big friendship, even when we’ll be far apart. He knows he can always call me for whatever reason, I’m always here for him. It’s not just Mo, it’s all the people at the club – the staff, medical staff. We’ve been like a big family, and this is why Liverpool is so big: because we care for each other. I wish everyone good luck and I want that they stay healthy. We will always be in touch.

Do you think your friendship was a symbol of the dressing room and the power of football? You come from different backgrounds, different places and play different roles on the pitch, and you’ve grown so close…

Yeah, 100 per cent. People can see what is also important in football, it’s about friendships inside and outside the dressing room – it’s not just let’s play football and be only teammates. I only use teammates as a word, but for me it’s different – they are my friends, who I need to cover their backs and they are covering my back. We are all in the same ship. People understand the friendship, especially for me and Mo, what it means. I can see a lot of positive comments and maybe a couple of years later we can be all together, proud of this achievement.

You leave us with a Premier League winner’s medal around your neck. How important was it and what did it mean to you to sign off in that way?

Incredibly proud. You cannot imagine the emotions I still have, especially from before the last game. Liverpool lifting the trophy, unfortunately not with our fans, but we know in our hearts they have been with us from day one. So, I will carry this forever. Forever. I can proudly say later to my grandkids that I played for Liverpool that year when Liverpool won the Premier League. This one will never be forgotten. So I’m really proud.

You’ve been here throughout the whole of Jürgen Klopp’s era, you were already here on day one. You’ll know as well as anyone the way he’s transformed this club. Is there one or several key factors you can put it down to, what he’s done for Liverpool?

Definitely – from my perspective, without Klopp it wouldn’t be the same. We can all agree with that. He changed our mentality, he changed our work ethic, he changed a lot. Not just football-wise; he also changed things around the club, he got the belief from the supporters and even in bad moments fans were sticking around always. It’s great to see that. I just cannot thank Jürgen enough for his support, he supported me not just in football, he supported me around my personal life. And I will never forget that. I had many problems and only he knew the problems. He was like a friend for me, like a dad, who I could come to and say all the problems. One day, we will look back and we can laugh all together and share good memories. This is what we’ll do.

What are your personal highlights over the six years? If you had to pick out one or two things that meant most to you?

Many of them. I would say all the finals we played, even the lost finals, it was a big dream come true. Even when we missed [out] and there were tears and everything. Especially the moments against Dortmund, I think every supporter will never forget that. Nights like Barcelona, even Kiev – though we lost it, that was the main part where we switched on another gear and then we made it next year in Madrid. And then especially all these trophies we won this year. And then the top of the [mountain] – the Premier League.

You mentioned Kiev – you predicted almost immediately afterwards that we’d be back the following season. It’s an easy thing to say but a much harder thing to do. Why were you so convinced we’d do it?

Because I’m still convinced it’s just the beginning of something big for the club. With the right manager and the right approach of the people behind the manager, all the club staff, and at the end the players, they are going in the right direction. I knew it straight away from that moment on that we are so strong that we can beat everyone. I wasn’t afraid to say that.

How did you deal with that summer in particular, because for a footballer it couldn’t really have got much tougher. You lost the Champions League final and then the World Cup final with Croatia – two huge near-misses. Was it more pride or disappointment for you?

It was definitely a big disappointment but I’m a guy who will always dig deeper after a bad thing, even if somebody tells me you cannot do it, I will try to do it. This is the mentality of the team also – ‘We didn’t do it the first time, but we’ll have another year to prove everyone wrong.’ That’s the great winning mentality of this club and this team. I’m leaving a big club and I’m proud of that.

Did that make the experiences of the last 12 to 18 months all the sweeter? You’ve had those lows, you’ve refused to give up and you’ve had your reward personally and with Liverpool with all these trophies in the last year…

Definitely, this is what was keeping us motivated from that moment when Klopp came. He said: ‘Guys, we will also have bad moments but don’t put your head down, put it high up and be proud, however you played. But give everything on the pitch.’ And that was important for us from day one. Supporters recognise that and this is how we’re doing. There will never be perfect days but when you give everything on the pitch you can always hold your head up high.

That’s certainly something nobody can dispute with you – your passion. You really have given it everything from day one, which coincidentally was six years ago today when you signed for the club…

It’s unbelievable. Six years, the Champions League was the sixth trophy for Liverpool, I wear the number six. A lot of sixes, there’s a reason. It’s a good moment to go and to look back without any regret, that was the most important thing for me. To give everything and that supporters can say I gave 100 per cent for this club, this means more than anything to me.

And you and the rest of the lads, whatever you all go on to do individually, you take your place in the Liverpool history books now – a first title for 30 years and Champions League winners…

It was always a dream to come here and leave some footsteps. This is what I said also in the beginning when I arrived, I didn’t come here just to play games, I’m here to leave some footsteps and to be recognised even 10, 15, 20 years later, people will still remember the Premier League, the season where everything was won. It’s fantastic to be just a part of this club and I will carry all these moments forever. I couldn’t do much more, I don’t know what to do more – that’s why I’m saying I’m really proud of that.

Finally, then, what’s your farewell message to the Liverpool fans?

I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me in bad moments, on the worst days, and in the best moments. You saw me crying, you saw me smiling but you know I left everything on the pitch. Also around the pitch I tried to be the best member of the club to show that I really care for the people, for the Liverpool supporters. I hope you are happy with that. Like I said, I will always be a Red – you have a new supporter now from Croatia. Thank you again and see you soon.

[AndyMuller]

Dejan Lovren talking about Jürgen Klopp:

"He changed our mentality, he changed our work ethic, he changed a lot.

Not just football-wise; he also changed things around the club, he got the belief from the supporters and even in bad moments fans were sticking around always. It’s great to see that.

I just cannot thank Jürgen enough for his support, he supported me not just in football, he supported me around my personal life. And I will never forget that.

I had many problems and only he knew the problems. He was like a friend for me, like a dad, who I could come to and say all the problems."

And about Mo Salah and the farewell message he left for him, and everyone at the club:

“Yeah, I saw it. I don’t want to show too many emotions because I’ve already been crying before the last game.

They saw that I felt the emotions. Especially also leaving Mo, my good friend.

It was something special but like I always said, it’s just the beginning of a big friendship, even when we’ll be far apart.

He knows he can always call me for whatever reason, I’m always here for him.

It’s not just Mo, it’s all the people at the club – the staff, medical staff.

We’ve been like a big family, and this is why Liverpool is so big: because we care for each other.

I wish everyone good luck and I want that they stay healthy. We will always be in touch.”

From here

A bit dusty in here, especially reading the Mo message.

[Oskar]

Lovely interview.

He wears his heart on his sleeve, the club clearly means an awful lot to him so I'm happy he's leaving with the medals that he's won and will always be remembered for having been a part of such a successful era in our history.

[Malaysian Kopite]

Put in some fantastic performances, best of luck

[oojason]

'"It's about friendship inside and outside the dressing room." @Dejan06Lovren pays an emotional tribute to his teammates and good friend, @MoSalah':-

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1288046538770407424 (with 90 second video)

[kloppismydad]

Lallana and Lovren have both shown that they enjoyed their time at the club and both leaving with their heads held high. Whatever you opinion about them is, it's clear, as Lovren mentions, that they never gave less than 100% on the pitch. Some days they were poor but they often had more good performances than bad ones. That's why they have been around for so many years under Klopp, that's why we've won as much as we've had recently.

For a guy with his history, it's a remarkable story for him. I wish Lovren the absolute best and hope he gets to visit Anfield soon and get a warm reception from our supporters.

YNWA Lovren

[RedForeverTT]

I didn't know that he is the emotional sort and thought he was a hardman! Seems like he could be both at the same time.

All the best in your new adventures. Liverpool always welcomes you.

[lgvkarlos]

Lallana and Lovren have both shown that they enjoyed their time at the club and both leaving with their heads held high. Whatever you opinion about them is, it's clear, as Lovren mentions, that they never gave less than 100% on the pitch. Some days they were poor but they often had more good performances than bad ones. That's why they have been around for so many years under Klopp, that's why we've won as much as we've had recently.

For a guy with his history, it's a remarkable story for him. I wish Lovren the absolute best and hope he gets to visit Anfield soon and get a warm reception from our supporters.

YNWA Lovren

Perfectly summed up👍
Hopefully both will do well for their new clubs.

[Thepooloflife]

I liked Lovren a lot - but, my esteem has multiplied 10 fold after reading that interview.........best of luck Dejan. YNWA

[Hedley Lamarr]

Both Lallana and Lovren will always be Liverpool, they can play for whoever from here, doesn’t matter, for the rest of their lives they’ll be one of us.

[rocco]

Best of luck

YNWA

[stockdam]

He really loves the club and has enjoyed playing for us. Hope he does well.

YNWA

[Eeyore]

He really loves the club and has enjoyed playing for us. Hope he does well.

YNWA

This is not meant as a slight on Lovren because he is a professional and has to do the best thing for his career and his family. He tried to force his way out last season and threatened to buy out his contract this summer. That is why we took up a clause in his contract to extend for a year.

Players might be great pro's like Lovren and be totally committed, but the romantic notion that they do that out of love for the Club needs knocking on the head.

[classycarra]

This is not meant as a slight on Lovren because he is a professional and has to do the best thing for his career and his family. He tried to force his way out last season and threatened to buy out his contract this summer. That is why we took up a clause in his contract to extend for a year.

Players might be great pro's like Lovren and be totally committed, but the romantic notion that they do that out of love for the Club needs knocking on the head.

Three bold claims in there, Al.

1) tried to force his way out last season
2) threatened to buy out his contract this summer
3) that is why we took up a clause in his contract to extend for a year.

Do you have any supporting evidence of those three assertions you've made? Or are you dramatising transfer rumours this summer and last, and the dance that takes place around those?

[Eeyore]

Three bold claims in there, Al.

1) tried to force his way out last season
2) threatened to buy out his contract this summer
3) that is why we took up a clause in his contract to extend for a year.

Do you have any supporting evidence of those three assertions you've made? Or are you dramatising transfer rumours this summer and last, and the dance that takes place around those?

1. Will a direct quote do. Lovren 'I wanted to leave, it didn't happen, I was told Liverpool needs me and I accepted that.

'Last week I spoke to Klopp again, he told me he understands me, knows I am not happy, but he also said "look, now it is finished, I want you to reset your head, I find you important".

2. There were media reports that Lovren was prepared to buy out his deal.

3. Liverpool took out an option to extend Lovren's deal but made it clear that they still wanted to sell Lovren.   

[classycarra]

1. Will a direct quote do. Lovren 'I wanted to leave, it didn't happen, I was told Liverpool needs me and I accepted that.

'Last week I spoke to Klopp again, he told me he understands me, knows I am not happy, but he also said "look, now it is finished, I want you to reset your head, I find you important".

2. There were media reports that Lovren was prepared to buy out his deal.

3. Liverpool took out an option to extend Lovren's deal but made it clear that they still wanted to sell Lovren.   

1) Direct quotes are ideal, although that is very clearly not evidence of "trying to force his way out". That's evidence of a conversation about leaving taking place.

Your way of paraphrasing that conversation is clearly sensationalised, given you used a pejorative term like 'forcing a way out' as if he faked a back injury or acted out.

2) So, no evidence? And not even any of those apparent media reports to share?

Looks to me like your source is the Daily Express, whose source was this single unsourced sentence on a Russian website. https://www.championat.com/football/news-4080493-dejan-lovren-blizok-k-perehodu-v-zenit.html . Not particularly strong evidence is it?

3) Nope, they didn't. Liverpool intended to take up the extra year option at the end of the transfer window. But he's left, so that did not happen as you claimed.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Some absolute horseshit as per usual

[deFacto please, you bastards]

1) Direct quotes are ideal, although that is very clearly not evidence of "trying to force his way out". That's evidence of a conversation about leaving taking place.

Your way of paraphrasing that conversation is clearly sensationalised, given you used a pejorative term like 'forcing a way out' as if he faked a back injury or acted out.

2) So, no evidence? And not even any of those apparent media reports to share?

Looks to me like your source is the Daily Express, whose source was this single unsourced sentence on a Russian website. https://www.championat.com/football/news-4080493-dejan-lovren-blizok-k-perehodu-v-zenit.html . Not particularly strong evidence is it?

3) Nope, they didn't. Liverpool intended to take up the extra year option at the end of the transfer window. But he's left, so that did not happen as you claimed.

You're wasting your time and brain cells. Al lives in his own universe.

As you said there is fuck all proof from anywhere reliable that Lovren tried to force his way out but of course Al will bring it up because it suits his narrative. In his world, wanting to play regular football is forcing your way out, despite the fact that he listened to Klopp and stayed one more year per Klopp's wishes [this is directly from Lovren's mouth, in an interview that he gave to local journalists back home, an interview I watched myself].

[newterp]

Was never good enough for this club. Best for everyone that he's left.

This is a good post. If you are a jackass.

[Agent99]

Was never good enough for this club. Best for everyone that he's left.

Dickhead.