Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has admitted the club are ‘not happy’ to have had him return from the World Cup nursing an injury, as reported by Goal.
The 29-year old centre half starred for Croatia throughout the World Cup as Vetreni reached the final of the tournament, with Lovren having pushed himself beyond breaking point for his country.
Now back with Liverpool, lasting effects from the summer’s tournament has meant Lovren hasn’t been able to join training ahead of the new Premier League season, with Liverpool due to face West Ham on Sunday.
While Lovren accepts that his absence is frustrating for the club, there is no way he can play through the pain barrier. Talking to Sportske Novosti, he said:
I cannot train at all because of stomach muscle issues. I am suffering a lot of pain and will see a specialist doctor in the Netherlands.
When did I start to feel it? I felt it during the World Cup. I played with pain and those three games killed me. But who wouldn’t play for Croatia at such a big tournament!
After the World Cup finished, the pain increased. I can’t even sit in my car without feeling it and to get out of the car hurts like hell!
I’d always grit my teeth and play for Croatia, but now I am paying the price. But no price is too high for what we achieved in Russia.
When quizzed on Liverpool’s reaction to him returning with an issue, Lovren continued:
Of course, they are not happy.
I haven’t trained since I returned from holiday. I can’t.
I’ll reassess things after seeing the doctor in Netherlands. I have to deal with that for now and believe it will be OK.
I hoped it would pass during my holiday, but it didn’t. As I went for a swim, it hurt. I couldn’t even rest normally.
Lovren, who is in his fourth year with the club since signing from Southampton in 2014, also claims he is happy at the club. When asked about a potential exit from the Reds, Lovren said:
Where would I go from Liverpool? It is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am too happy here to move.
