'You can't understand' - Kostas Tsimikas makes…

'You can't understand' - Kostas Tsimikas makes Liverpool pre-season admission inside training camp

Kostas Tsimikas has lifted the lid on the intense nature of Liverpool's training camp - and revealed the competitive edge that continues to drive Jurgen Klopp's side.

The Reds are on a week-long retreat in Austria as they ramp up their preparations for the new campaign, with the Premier League opener at Fulham now less than a fortnight away.

The players underwent a double training session on Saturday and were then involved in an exhausting day of running on Sunday in baking temperatures in the 30s.

And Tsimikas admits the intensity of the work with Liverpool is unlike anything he has experienced during his career.

"If you've never done this pre-season you can't feel or understand how tough it is," said the Greece international. "Saturday we had two hard sessions and Sunday was a running session. It's all about being 100% ready physically because this is what we need at the moment. We have a very, very tough season and we have to be 100% ready.

"It's very hard as always, very tough and very competitive. All the boys are working very hard. We have set our goals like last year, we will go for it and that's why we work for it. I think everybody is absolutely ready for the coming challenges and we are really looking forward to it."

Liverpool continue their warm-up programme with a game at Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday, before the weekend double header of the Community Shield against Manchester City on Saturday and the Anfield friendly against Strasbourg the following day.

The Reds play five Premier League games in August - the first time that has happened since 1999 - and Tsimikas believes the time spent building team spirit cannot be underestimated.

"It's very, very important because it gives us time to know each other, the way we play, the way we think, even if it's not about football," said the left-back. "It helps you get closer and it's important for the year. When we are close together we are a family, we fight for each other. We always look after our colleagues and we want the best mood for them, and that's why we achieved last year so many things and hopefully this year we can achieve even more."

Tsimikas has also revealed how Liverpool's players have been spending their downtime and detailed the expected return of an opportunity to topple his close friend Mohamed Salah.

Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, he added: "We play UNO, having a little bit of fun, and obviously we prepare for the next session and the next training game. I've only played UNO once and I finished last, but one of the best is Lucho or Thiago, these guys are top professionals in UNO. Everything we do is very competitive, but we only have smiles on our faces.

"We haven't played table tennis yet. But I think in the next days we'll have a go at it because last year we had a tournament and everybody wants to beat Mo because he was first."

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