InterviewKostas Tsimikas: We will give everything to be ready

Jürgen Klopp's 37-man squad kicked off their friendly preparations for the new season against Manchester United in Thailand on Tuesday.

The Reds are now into the second leg of their Asia tour, with fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace up next on Friday in Singapore.

Tsimikas – who scored the decisive penalty in last season's Emirates FA Cup final at Wembley – is now fully focused on what is at hand to be ready over the next few weeks.

Read on for the full interview with Liverpoolfc.com as the full-back discusses pre-season, playing a key squad role, his form last year and more…

On the intensity of pre-season and tough sessions...

Honestly, it's very intense. I think this is what the team needs right now in pre-season. We have to work hard, [we] have to put the limits very high if we want to reach again our goals because we left something from the last year and we'll go next year for it. We will give absolutely everything for that.

On whether last season is still on his mind chasing four trophies...

Yes, of course. Me, personally, I wanted something more from the team from the season last year but at the end, OK, we didn't win the Premier League [and] we didn't win the Champions League but this is the game. The only thing we have to think is to go 100 per cent hungry for the next [season] to give everything every day in the training [sessions], because now [that's what] matters, to give everything to be 100 per cent ready for the next season.

On last season being one of the best in his career so far...

Of course, OK, there's the team also. Always, as I've said a lot of times, I enjoy to play with my boys here; my family. The first season for me was not so good – or as I expect – but the second year I say [that] I had to work even harder if I wanted to reach my goals and hopefully, I had no injuries. All the games I played I enjoy really a lot.

On pre-season being a vital time to get fit...

Every pre-season is very hard, even when you have so many games. It has to be more tough. All the boys here are 100 per cent focused and 100 per cent ready to give everything. This is what we train for. We train hard now to pace ourselves after. We have a lot of games [but] that's what we train for.

On being an important team player throughout the season...

I train every day for that. When I came here, I know I have to challenge Robbo. This is too much for every left-back in the world, but they give me the extra push all the time to work even harder if I want to win something for [my] personal goals. That's what I did for these two years, and that's what I will do for the next one also.

On Reds youngster Luke Chambers impressing in pre-season...

This kid impress me a lot. He's a very, very good player and always very focused in the training. For me, my personal advice for him is to never stop dreaming and never stop working hard, because in football that's the most important [thing]. I'm really sure the future is bright for him.

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