Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has admitted he’s dreading saying goodbye to supervisor Jurgen Klopp as soon as and for all on the finish of the season.
Klopp, who introduced Van Dijk to Anfield in January 2018, will step down from his place on the finish of the season, bringing an finish to an illustrious interval through which Liverpool have re-established themselves as heavyweights of the European sport.
The announcement of his departure left followers extremely emotional and that sentiment will solely develop when the second ultimately arrives, and Van Dijk confessed to Voetbal Worldwide that he’s not trying ahead to bidding farewell to Klopp.
“I’m fairly an emotional particular person and I at all times discover it very tough to say goodbye to somebody,” he defined. “That may definitely be the case now.
“It isn’t simply the supervisor who goes, it is extra folks. Pepijn [Lijnders], an vital particular person within the employees…and I might go on and on. Saying goodbye just isn’t one thing I’m trying ahead to, however we will make it very good by profitable prizes collectively.
“That is the best way life is. You see one another on the membership virtually day by day and much more typically than your personal spouse and kids. You expertise highlights collectively, but in addition tough moments. That creates a bond that may be very shut, particularly at a membership like Liverpool, one massive household.
“After which after just a few years it is out of the blue over. I hope, however am truly fairly certain, that the membership manages to protect that distinctive ambiance of mutual connection for the long run.”
Klopp’s farewell tour coincides with Van Dijk’s dedication to show himself as certainly one of Europe’s greatest defenders after a 2022/23 marketing campaign which resulted in disappointment for each Liverpool and the Netherlands.
“Final 12 months did not go nicely and I am one of many contributing gamers at Liverpool and the Netherlands,” he stated. “I realise that, I am happy with that.
“I performed superb video games final 12 months, but in addition duels through which I used to be a lot much less, which had been lower than the usual I set myself.
“Then you need to take care of the criticism and I admit that, like each human being, I’m not at all times proof against that. I perceive very nicely that criticism is a part of the job and that is high quality. However typically you’ll be able to deal with it higher than different occasions.
“One factor I actually do have as a objective is to get the whole lot out of it that is in me. We’ll see what the following few years carry.
“Bodily and mentally, I really feel sturdy and good. I simply wish to win the whole lot. We’re trying good with Liverpool for the time being and we will nonetheless take good prizes just like the championship and the Europa League.
“I wish to obtain these as captain of this excellent membership and if the whole lot goes alongside and falls proper, I may maintain up a trophy as soon as as captain of the Dutch nationwide workforce.”
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