Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed that Dejan Lovren is right to call himself one of the world's best defenders although he should not have declared it publicly.
Following Croatia's World Cup semi-final win over England, the 29-year-old pointed to his role in Liverpool's Champions League final run and his nation's progress at Russia 2018 as proof of his abilities.
Klopp concurred with the assessment, although he admitted that Lovren would have been better off remaining humble.
"It would be better if someone else said that and not Dejan, but actually he is right," Klopp told reporters after Saturday's pre-season stalemate with Bury.
"The only problem is nobody actually thinks about it but if you go into the detail it is not a big surprise. Croatia do not have a world class right-back and left-back, but they do not concede. In the middle of the park Rakitic and Modric are offensive, so somebody must fix all that and he is a big part of it.
"He was with us in the Champions League final, and two years ago in the Europa League final. Okay, we did not win that but that means only 11 players were better than us, and only two centre-halves. I did not see two better centre-halves in the Champions League final – only that they were more ruthless.
"He has played a really good World Cup but to do it consistency is the main thing. Dejan and I will be working together for a long time. I have the opportunity to help him and next time, maybe I will say it."
Lovren is expected to start in Croatia's World Cup final meeting with France in Moscow on Sunday.
Giuseppe Labellarte
