Kostas Tsimikas believes Liverpool would not have enjoyed their success under Jurgen Klopp were it not for the input of former sporting director Michael Edwards.
Tsimikas was among a host of players Edwards - working alongside Klopp and the recruitment team - helped bring to the club during six years in the role before his departure last summer.
The Greece international joined in 2020 with Liverpool the reigning Premier League and world champions having won the Champions League the season before, and helped them to lift the FA Cup and League Cup last season.
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And Tsimikas has saluted the job done by Edwards, whose successor Julian Ward will shortly leave the Reds with the club still to determine their next sporting director.
"Usually these people do everything," said the left-back. "He (Edwards) has made a lot of important changes in the team, very important transfers. He brought me here too and I'm very happy about it. Because if it wasn't for that man and the entire scouting department of the team, I wouldn't be here.
"I think that if it wasn't for him, the team wouldn't have reached where it is now, with all the trophies it has won. So I, in turn, and the team thank him very much for what he did for all of us."
While making 28 appearances for Liverpool this season, Tsimikas has started only eight Premier League games - of which half came in the first three months - with Andy Robertson the established left-back.
And speaking to Greek publication Gazzetta, Tsimikas said: "This is very difficult for me. Because many times I come here happy, full, ready to give everything. I go out on the field, I give everything and in the end I don't play and that's not easy.
"I understand, we are 22 players, we can't all play. It's very difficult and people can't understand it, because people only see how much money the footballer gets, what a life he leads and all this. For me this is the most difficult, at times you have to come to terms with some situations that make you feel very disadvantaged.
"You ask yourself 'what do I need to do more of? What do I need to improve on? Am I not good?'. And that's how all the problems start."
Whlie Tsimikas still has another two years remaining on his Liverpool contract, speculation has grown over a possible departure this summer. The player, though, has not even considered an exit from Anfield.
"To tell the truth, I haven't thought of myself in the colours of another team, especially in England," he said. "I try to be focused and give my best for the team I play for.
"Liverpool is the team that has raised me in football. From the people who work in the club, to the chefs, you see that everyone is equal, they see you as a person here. From day one they hugged me tight, loved me, showed me the way, everything I want is here. There is no better atmosphere in a team I think. So, I haven't thought about it (leaving)."
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