‘WE’LL ALWAYS BE CHAMPS’
Klopp will never drop or flop as long as we aim for the top
From humble beginnings in Dutch football at the Willem II academy – where he struggled to convince coaches he had a future – to the hero of the Kop, Van Dijk’s road to success has been long and winding.
But as he stands on the brink of history with Liverpool – coronavirus permitting – the 28-year-old Dutch defender isn’t forgetting his past.
And when football returns after the professional game suspension, and he celebrates Anfield’s first Premier League trophy, Van Dijk will remember his struggles to carve out a career that is now a glittering success.
“Winning the Champions League was a dream come true, but so will winning the Premier League,” he said.
“I was young and playing in lower league teams in Holland, then came to the Premier League, and winning it will be outstanding.
“The same goes for winning the PFA Player of the Year last year and UEFA Player of the Year.
“Those moments will be up there as well, but I won’t take anything for granted.
“Coming from where I have in football, through Willem II to Groningen (above) and then on to Celtic before Southampton and Liverpool, of course it will make it mean more.
“I don’t take my personal journey for granted at all and it makes it special for me and my family – and it will always be. That’s why it is easy for me to deal with pressure. When I first came here, I wanted to win everything.
“As a player at a club like Liverpool you want to compete for all the trophies, whether it’s the League Cup or the FA Cup.
“But obviously, you want to deliver the Premier League to this club – it has been so long. I wasn’t even born the last time, and it’s something the club is hungry for.
“But also for the Champions League, which was a dream come true for me, and so, if winning the league happens, it will also be a dream come true.” When the moment finally comes for Liverpool and Van Dijk – in an empty stadium, sitting at home without kicking a ball, or in front of the Kop – the defender believes it will still be the sweetest feeling.
Liverpool’s title triumph won’t have the drama of a last-day win like Manchester City in 2012 because they’ve been runaway leaders for months and are 25
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp never needs a lift from his players – even after the biggest disappointments.
Virgil van Dijk has revealed the German boss is always upbeat with his stars – unless they don’t deliver.
Klopp (right) and his players were distraught after losing 4-2 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid to crash out of the Champions League last 16.
But the Dutch defender says that, while the Kop boss keeps them happy and
ANFIELD legend Phil Thompson insists Liverpool WILL always be remembered as champions – even if the coronavirus crisis ends the Premier League season.
Thompson, a seven-time title winner during a glittering 13-year career with his hometown club, believes Jurgen Klopp’s men have already done enough to be handed the trophy.
Liverpool are 25 points clear at points ahead. But the second they become champions will trigger an explosion of joy for the £75million Dutchman.
“Will it be an anti-climax? What do you think? No!” he exclaimed. “We should enjoy it even more because of the wait.
“To win the league here is something that we can all be remembered for. We should just go for it, and we are very close now. Just enjoy it.”
Despite crashing out of the Champions League last 16 to Atletico Madrid at Anfield last week, Liverpool can still eclipse City’s 100-point Premier League record set in 2018.
But Van Dijk’s priority is securing the title first. “We don’t play for records, we play for trophies,” he said. “I have been here now almost two-and-a-half years and been very blessed and happy to have experienced two Champions League finals.
“We won one of them and I was very close to the Premier League title last year and now very close to it this year.
“That is something the club are waiting for and are dreaming of, so let’s just go for it and see what happens in the next weeks and months and be positive.”
With the pandemic shutting down sport, it’s unclear when Liverpool will be crowned league champions. But, when it happens, Van Dijk knows who he will be dedicating it to.
“My wife and kids, they sacrifice so much day in and day out,” said the Dutchman.
“What they do for me and our life is incredible and are a big part of my success – and I remind them of that every day.” motivated, Klopp doesn’t need propping up by his stars in the dark moments.
“No, there are never times when he needs lifting by us,” said Van Dijk. “He is always the same upbeat character and what you see is what you get from him.
“He is very intense and will tell you straight, he will help you when you need it and give you criticism when you need it as well.
“Everyone takes it like a man and that has helped us so far.” the top of the table – and are just six points away from the Merseyside club’s first league title in 30 years.
The big fear at Anfield is that the season will be declared null and void if the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen as expected over the coming months.
But former Kop captain Thompson, who also played for England 42 times, said: “Even if the season is declared null and void, we would still say Liverpool are champions. They are 25 points clear – and that will always be in the record books even if the season was to finish now.
“Even if there was an asterisk next to it, that 25-point gap makes us worthy winners.
“As Jurgen Klopp has said, there are bigger issues to think about right now.
“But it’s been a fantastic season for Liverpool and not to win the title would be extremely harsh after 30 years of hurt.”