Dejan Lovren says Liverpool are not scared of Real Madrid, and feels it is the Champions League holders who should be worried ahead of the final in Kiev.
Madrid defeated Juventus in the decider last season to become the first team since AC Milan in 1990 to retain European football’s biggest prize.
Despite being below their best domestically and failing to convince against Juve and Bayern Munich in the last two rounds, Zinedine Zidane’s side have a chance to become the first team since Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern in the 1970s to win the competition three times in succession.
Lovren, though, is not intimidated by that impressive recent pedigree, after Liverpool blazed a trail to the showdown at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium courtesy of impressive triumphs over Premier League champions Manchester City and Italian side Roma.
‘They [Madrid] are quite confident but we don’t care for that, we are focused on our job,’ he said.
‘Why should we fear them? They should fear us.’
WHAT A WIN! 🔴 It was a dream come true to captain Liverpool. I will never, ever forget this in my life. It is a great honour to represent a club like Liverpool, The atmosphere today from the fans, is why this club is one of worlds best. YNWA 🔴#LFC #LIVvMCI pic.twitter.com/j9cVaRPNEB
— Dejan Lovren (@DejanLovren_) January 14, 2018
According to Lovren, the arrival of manager Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in October 2015 has had a transformational impact at Liverpool, on and off the field.
‘He changed many things in the club,’ Lovren said.
‘Not just the players but things around the club, people, he has changed the mentality, how we think.
‘Everything is more positive now.
‘Even when we sometimes don’t play good, he always finds something good and there is not negativity. He deserves this.
‘It is not accidental that he already reached the final of the Champions League in 2013 with Borussia Dortmund.
‘He has given the club pride back. Everyone feels that, everyone lives that.
‘Everyone should be proud that we have a manager like him,’ he concluded.
-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za
