Emre Can admits the haters got to him during Liverpool's dreadful January
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Emre Can admits he took criticism to heart after Liverpool’s woeful January.
The Reds only managed one win, against Plymouth in an FA Cup replay, last month - before ending their hoodoo at home to Tottenham last weekend.
And Germany international Can admits he found it difficult to ignore the haters but has backed Jurgen Klopp to fire the Reds towards a Champions League place.
(Photo: Liverpool FC via Getty)
Can told the Liverpool Echo : “It’s not easy to ignore what people are saying because you naturally tend to read the newspapers and speak to friends and a lot of people in the city.
"Of course they want to talk about football. It’s not easy to ignore, but we have to try and do that because it’s the best way to focus on the games ahead.
“The most important thing is we have to stick together. When we have good performances we stick together and we must do the same when we have bad performances.”
Adam Lallana revealed this week skipper Jordan Henderson called a players-only meeting to help rejuvenate the Reds ahead of the Tottenham clash.
(Photo: Liverpool FC/Getty Images)
(Photo: Getty)
And Can has told of Klopp holding his own get-togethers in an attempt to remind his squad of their potential.
“He is a very positive guy and has been encouraging us and trying to help us have a positive frame of mind so that everybody believes and thinks positively again,” said the Germany international.
“We have had a lot of meetings and he tries to motivate us because he also knows that we cannot forget the good times we have had this season.
“We are fifth in the league – one points off fourth – which is not too bad in a strong league.
“We know how quickly things can turn around in football. We have to stay together, be one team and look forward.
(Photo: John Powell)
(Photo: Liverpool FC via Getty)
“Of course, after we had so many good times in the first half of the season, nobody thought that we would have a spell (like we had). I think we can learn a lot from the past month and come back stronger.
“(The target has) always been to finish in the top four of the Premier League as we want to play in the Champions League next year. When you play for Liverpool, playing in the Champions League is always the target.”
(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: Liverpool FC/Getty Images)
Liverpool are without a game until the scheduled trip to Leicester City on Monday week, and head to La Manga tomorrow for a five-day training camp.
“It’s different of course because now we have more time to train,” said Can, speaking to the official Liverpool matchday programme. “I’m sure we will make the opportunity to spend that time working on different things to try and improve.
“But as a player you’d always much rather be playing more games. Training is good but I prefer going out to play matches with the amazing support of our fans behind us.”