WE’RE REAL GOOD TOO
Van Dijk tells Reds to believe they can down Madrid stars
VIRGIL VAN DIJK wants Liverpool to not forget how good they are as they begin the Champions League final countdown.
Real Madrid, who have won three of the last four finals, are favourites to lift a record 13th European crown in Kiev on May 26.
Van Dijk, the world’s costliest defender at £75m, respects the threat posed by stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale (right).
But as the Reds prepare to fly to Spain today for a training camp he said: “We don’t need to
forget that we have so much quality as well.
“We deserve to be in the final, we must show that, be brave – and then we’ll see what happens.”
Dutch centre-half van
Dijk says Liverpool must also remember how they have turned on the style to plunder 46 goals in their 14 European games this term.
He added: “It’s been a great season for Liverpool and hopefully we can finish it off in Kiev and go there with a lot of confidence.”
Liverpool have sealed qualification for the Champions League in backto-back campaigns for the first time since 2009 and van Dijk has loved his first five months under Jurgen Klopp (above).
“Working with these guys is just a joy. Playing in front of these fans, with this atmosphere, is something special. Hopefully it can be like that for a long time.”