The Netherlands defender has spoken out about what is anticipated to be a tearful season finale for Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk has expressed his dread at the news that Jurgen Klopp will be leaving Liverpool this summer.
The German manager of the Reds will step down at the end of the current campaign, having served as their manager for nine seasons, it was announced in January. Additionally, it has been announced that Vitor Matos, the elite development coach, and assistant managers Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz will be leaving their positions immediately.
Many iconic players who have won every major award the team has ever had with them have already left Liverpool. After Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, and Gini Wijnaldum left the team in the summer of last year, Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino, James Milner, and Fabinho are the most recent players to depart the team.
Van Dijk has acknowledged that it would be tough to say goodbye to Klopp, the man who signed him for a club record £75 million in January 2018 and brought him to Anfield. But Klopp’s departure will bring with it a whole new intensity of feeling.
I’m a pretty emotional person, so saying goodbye to someone is usually really difficult for me,” he said. “I’m a pretty emotional guy,” “That will undoubtedly be the case going forward.
Not only does the manager depart, but a number of other people do as well. We could talk endlessly about one of the most important members of the crew, Pepijn (Lijnders).
Although I am not looking forward to it, we can make it a very enjoyable experience since we will be saying goodbye if we win awards together.
That’s just how life happens. You see each other almost every day at the club; in fact, you see each other more often than you do your own wife and kids. Along with experiencing life’s highs and lows, you go through phases together.
As a result, a very strong bond is created, which is crucial at a team like Liverpool, which is similar to a big family.
“And then, after a few years, it ends abruptly. I am actually quite optimistic that the club will be able to sustain that unique atmosphere of mutual connection for the foreseeable future, despite my high expectations.
Van Dijk’s game-winning goal in Liverpool’s League Cup final victory over Chelsea a month ago ensured, at the very least, that Klopp’s final season at Liverpool was crowned with trophies. In addition to winning the Alan Hardaker Trophy for the second time after being named man of the match, it was his first trophy since being named club captain the previous summer. These two achievements were made prior to him receiving the trophy.
Van Dijk is eager to move on from a dismal 2022–23 season and win more championships for his team and his nation. The day, he claimed, was perfect, and he is resolved to receive more recognition for both.
He recalled to Voetball International, “I had thought of this beforehand because it ends a perfect day in the right way.” “It was the ideal way to cap off an ideal day.” Not only did I score the winning goal, but my family was also in the stands to watch the action.
All in all, it gave me a great sense of pride in my position as captain. Nothing could have filled me with greater satisfaction than to receive this award—my first as captain—alongside the manager, who has been and still is incredibly important to the team and to me personally.
The Dutchman faced criticism from the outside world during the previous season due to Liverpool’s inability to qualify for the Champions League and the Netherlands’ early elimination from the 2022 World Cup.
Van Dijk was back to his best this season, and he took the criticism into consideration. Van Dijk also made some suggestions about what he wants to achieve in the future, considering that his contract at Anfield expires the following year.
“At Liverpool and Oranje, I’m one of the contributing players,” he continued. “I didn’t perform well at Oranje and Liverpool last year.” “I am happy that you are aware of that.
In the previous year, I experienced a great deal of success in my games, but I also had a great deal of failure in the duels I took part in, which fell short of the expectations I had set for myself.
When that occurs, you have to deal with the criticism, and I have to admit that I am not always immune to it as a human being. I have no issues with accepting criticism because I am fully aware that it is an essential part of the job. However, there are moments when handling it is easier than at other times.
“To extract everything that is contained within me from it is something that I genuinely want to achieve. We’ll find out what lies ahead in the upcoming years.
I feel confident and comfortable both mentally and physically. I sincerely want to win by any means necessary. Right now, things with Liverpool seem promising, and we still have a chance to win major titles and competitions like the Europa League.
I would like to accept those awards as the captain of this amazing club, and if all goes as planned, I might also be able to raise a trophy at some point in the future as the captain of the Dutch national team.
