VAN DIJK: I’LL MISS YOU WHEN JURGONE
Virgil admits: We’ve a bond, I see the manager more than my wife, but it will be special to finish on a high
VIRGIL VAN DIJK is already bracing himself for Jurgen Klopp’s emotional departure from Liverpool.
The brilliant Dutch defender knows there will be tears when the Kop boss brings the curtain down on his Anfield reign – but he has also set his sights on a few more cheers.
Van Dijk still has some unfinished business. The Reds are setting the pace in the Premier League and are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
And, after asking Klopp to join him in Wembley’s Royal Box to lift the Carabao Cup at Wembley last month, the Liverpool captain hopes there will be more glory days.
Van Dijk said: “I am quite an emotional person and always find it very difficult to say goodbye to someone anyway – and it will be even more so now.
“Saying goodbye is not something I look forward to, but we can make it very nice by winning prizes together.
“That’s the way life is. You see each other at the club almost daily – even more often than your own wife and children.
“You experience highlights together, but also difficult moments. That creates a bond which is very close, especially at a club like Liverpool, one big family.
“And then, after a few years, it’s suddenly over. I hope, but am actually quite sure, that the club manages to preserve that unique atmosphere of mutual connection for the future.”
Liverpool’s dreams of a Quadruple were ended by last week’s shock FA Cup defeat at Manchester United.
But Van Dijk made sure that Klopp’s final Wembley act was to lift a trophy after he had scored a brilliant injury-time header to snatch the Carabao Cup away from Chelsea.
He added: “I had thought of this beforehand, because it ended a perfect day in the right way.
“My family was in the stands, it was an exciting game and I scored the winning goal. All in all, that made me so incredibly proud as captain.
“For me, there was nothing better than receiving a trophy, my first as captain, with the manager, who has been and still is so incredibly important for the club and also for me personally.”
Van Dijk, 32, is back to peak form this season after admitting he was below his best when Liverpool finished fifth last year. Now he has stated his desire to win more trophies for club and country in the coming months.
Holland lost to Argentina on penalties in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and were beaten by both Croatia and Italy when they hosted the Nations League last summer.
In an interview with Voetbal International, Van Dijk said: “One thing I really do have as a goal is to get everything out of it that’s in me.
“We’ll see what the next few years bring. Physically and mentally, I feel strong and good.
“I just want to win everything. We’re looking good with Liverpool and we can still take nice prizes like the title and the Europa League.
“I want to receive those as captain of this wonderful club and, if everything falls right, I may also be holding up a trophy as captain of the Dutch national team.
“Last year didn’t go well and I’m one of the contributing players at Liverpool and Oranje. I realise that.
“I played very good games last year, but also duels in which I was much less good and not up to my standards.
“Then you have to face the criticism and I admit, like every human being, I am not immune to that.
“I understand criticism is part of the job, but sometimes you can handle it better than other times.”
‘I find goodbyes difficult anyway – it will be even more so now’