THE SPECIAL Title glory will be journey’s end for Virgil
DAILY STAR SUNDAY, March 15, 2020
VIRGIL VAN DIJK has revealed that winning Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years will be made more special for him by his own personal journey to the pinnacle of club football.
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 Dutch defender, 28, isn’t forgetting his past.
And when football finally returns after the professional game’s suspension and he celebrates Anfield’s first Premier League trophy, Van Dijk will remember his struggles to carve a career that is now a roaring success.
“For me personally, winning the Champions League was a dream come true but winning the Premier League will also be a dream,” he said.
“I have been young and playing in lower league teams in Holland, so coming 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 that said, I won’t take anything for granted.
“Coming from where I have in football, through Willem II to Groningen and then on to Celtic, Southampton and Liverpool 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. It always will be. It is 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, the League Cup, the FA Cup – but obviously you want to deliver the Premier League to this club.
“It has been so long since they won the league I wasn’t even born and it is something the club is definitely hungry for.”
When the moment finally comes for Liverpool and Van Dijk – in an empty stadium, sat at home, or in front of the Kop – the defender believes it will still be the sweetest feeling.
Liverpool’s title win might not have the drama of a last-day win like Manchester City in 2012. They have been runaway leaders for months and have