If you don’t think we can do the Double you might as well stay at home says Virgil

SWANSEA legend Alan Curtis will retire from the club’s coaching staff at the end of the season.

Curtis, 65, scored 110 goals in 400 Swans appearances, and has been caretaker boss three times.

“After over 40 years serving the club I felt this was the right time to step back from day-to-day involvement,” said

Curtis (right), who will take up a new role as honorary club president. VIRGIL VAN DIJK has told his team-mates: “You have to believe we’ll do the double – otherwise you can stay home next time.”

The Dutch colossus arrived in Porto with his team-mates yesterday, insisting it is a great time to be a Red.

They aim to complete the demolition of the Portuguese after a 2-0 victory at Anfield in the first leg, to reach a second consecutive Champions League semi-final.

But the Liverpool defender insists his team must now dare to dream they can go further and complete a memorable double by also lifting the Premier League trophy.

“For us now it is about belief. And if you think about it, what is eight games? Fingers crossed. You have to give everything you have got,” he explained.

“It is going to be tough, we know that. But it is a great time to be a Liverpool player. We have to, you know, just go for it.”

Liverpool really are in touching distance of the ultimate domestic and European double – a feat they have achieved twice before in their glorious history, in 1977 and 1984.

Those teams were considered the greatest of all time in Reds legend, and Van Dijk is not scared of the challenge of attempting to join those greats in Anfield folklore.

In a rousing call to his team, he said: “You have to believe, otherwise you can stay home next time. You need that belief.”

And asked if suggesting they have eight games left shows the club’s belief, he added: “Yes...you have to keep that in mind, think that way, that’s what we are aiming for.

“But I did say fingers crossed as well! It is still something we need to believe in, but of course we still need to do it too. “We are going to believe in ourselves to keep going, to reach the final again, because that is what we are all here for.

“That’s what we have to do, just focus on ourselves, give it everything, see where it takes us.”

Van Dijk (above) refuses to underestimate Porto though, and he explained that Liverpool will show them the respect of playing their strongest side – and their natural game.

And he reckons the Reds must be brave enough to attack in search of an away goal to kill the tie.

“Porto will still have the belief, but we obviously believe we are going there to finish the job,’’ added the centre-back.

“We have to play our game. We are not going to defend the 2-0, we want to attack and play like we have been playing all season...hopefully create chances to score a goal maybe two.

“If we score one we know they will need four to go through.

“We must play our game, create chances and then finish the tie.”