Saturday 22 April 2017 12:36, UK
Simon Mignolet insists he is happy with the way he responded after his No 1 spot at Liverpool was questioned earlier this season.
The Belgian, who was dropped for Loris Karius earlier this term after a string of under-par performances, recently regained his starting place and has impressed in recent weeks.
Mignolet admits he looked in the mirror during the tough times, but has now come out stronger.
He told Sky Sports: "I'm happy with how I responded after that moment. It's about keeping your head down, working hard, and then showing together with the team what you can do.
"The moment it happens you try to look in the mirror and see what you can do better. Also, keep your head down, focus and work hard to turn it around.
"I'm happy with how I reacted, it's behind me now, I don't want to look back at it too much, because there's still a job to do.
"I'm looking more ahead than over my shoulder to see what's coming. I think we can do a lot of good things here."
Liverpool go into their Super Sunday clash against Crystal Palace sitting in third place, but with Manchester United and Arsenal still hot on their heels chasing a top-four spot.
Mignolet says both he and the team are desperate to reach the Champions League, insisting it is part of the club's history and make-up.
"If we can get into the Champions League then next year can be an exciting season, and everybody is looking forward to that. Everybody in this dressing room is hungry for success.
"I think the Champions League has been a part of the history of Liverpool Football Club, to fight in Europe together with fighting at the top in England.
"We want to be there next year, the dressing room is really hungry to play in the Champions League next year."
Having previously struggled against the so-called "lesser" clubs in the Premier League this term, Jurgen Klopp's side have ground out results at West Brom and Stoke in recent weeks with dogged performances.
Mignolet says those wins were the result of a realisation within the squad that the victory is more important than the performance, and though the club would like to play free-flowing football each week, that does not always equal points.
"We've shown character in the last few weeks, and the last few games away from home, to grind out results.
"We've shown a different kind of football in these games the last few weeks. Sometimes you have to carry a 1-0 win over the board to take the points home, sometimes not with the nicest of football.
"I think the dressing room also has to learn from it themselves. We have to look at ourselves sometimes and realise it's more important to get a victory rather than the way we play.
"Of course we want to play nice football and score goals, and if we can then good, but sometimes you have to accept that's not always possible."
Watch the full interview with Mignolet on Super Sunday from 1.30pm on Sky Sports 1
