I miss it & I want it but there’s nothing I can do
Virgil’s agony as Liverpool’s title hangs in balance
THERE is an obsession among football fans it seems about the destination of the Premier League title and whether it is right to resume the season amid a global pandemic.
Not at Anfield though. While partisan loyalties seem to split two groups of thought on voiding the current season – or resuming even if it eats into the next campaign – there are no such deliberations among the Liverpool players themselves.
In a revealing interview on the official LFC website, Virgil van Dijk, a recognised leader within the squad of the champions-elect, says he and his team-mates are working on the psychology of their enforced lay-off and trying hard not to lose sleep and energy over things beyond their control.
Clearly, a worldwide catastrophe that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives is outside anyone’s control, even governments.
Yet van Dijk admits it is hard, with the title so close, not to think of the ramifications of being within touching distance of the trophy that still remains elusively beyond grasp.
He said: “Obviously it has been very surreal, a bit crazy.
“You have never experienced things like this before, you see these kinds of things in TV shows or films.
“The unknown is the difficult part because obviously everyone wants to look ahead to something, you want to think of how long it will take. But in this case you have to just be very patient, do the right thing.
“The reality is it’s just a crazy time right now. We have to remember the most important thing is everyone’s safety, that’s the main thing.”
It is a theme echoed by manager Jurgen Klopp and the entire Liverpool squad – the idea there are far more important things right now, beyond the issues and debates of football.
While rival supporters seem to take pleasure in constantly suggesting the Premier League should be voided this season, Liverpool fans react with the sense of injustice such a decision would create.
At Anfield though one of the club’s mantras has always been to focus on the things within their sphere of control, not outside it. That comes from Klopp and Lee Richardson, the former player and Chesterfield manager who is now a qualified psychologist, working with the club three days a week.
He was officially appointed by the manager last November but has worked with the players since last summer.
And van Dijk revealed the mindset of players as they are isolated at home is a key element in the work they have been doing since the league was paused.
He said: “It’s a totally different mindset, first and foremost. Your body is feeling different of course as well. This period, together with the Christmas spell is the busiest and toughest period – mentally as well – of the season.
“Now you have no idea what might happen, you stay at home and relax basically and do other things, play other games instead of football. You’re not in the mood to really play football.
“Obviously you miss it and want it but there is no other way, you just have to stay put and wait for the right moment to go out there again.”