Dejan Lovren clarifies those 'world's best defender' comments | OneFootball

Dejan Lovren has denied he ever claimed to be the best defender in the world while also aiming a dig at Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos.

During the World Cup, the Croatian was widely mocked after he apparently claimed to be the finest defender on the planet.

But while Lovren does feel his comments were taken massively out of context, he also believes he deserves more respect for what he’s achieved during his career.

“I said ‘one of’ the best defenders in the world and I think I didn’t say anything wrong,” the 29-year-old told Copa90.

“Of course my haters will always say that (I don’t deserve to be seen as one of the best).

“What can I say? Is anyone perfect here?

“People always catch you on mistakes and they don’t look at the good things you do. Sometimes I think I don’t deserve the hate, I would say.

“If you look at Ramos, he has many more mistakes than me. But he is at Real Madrid. When you do a mistake but you win 5-1, 5-2 then nobody sees the mistake.

“And I’m quite unlucky. When I do the mistake it’s 1-0! Finished! But I carry on. Without mistakes you cannot be where you are now.”

Lovren played in last season’s Champions League final before making it to the World Cup final with Croatia and despite the fact he came away from both competitions empty handed, he believes playing in both finals in the same year is an accolade worthy of praise.

“I never said I am the best,” he reiterated.

“It can be one of five.

“But definitely when you look, tell me a player who played in the Champions League (final) and then a month later in the final of the World Cup?

“I am the second (in the Premier League), after Thierry Henry. I was searching that information!

“I didn’t win, but still I think I deserve the credit.”