Virgil van Dijk has promised that he and his teammates will give their best to make Jürgen Klopp’s final season one to remember. The club captain described Friday’s news that the German will leave as “a tough one to take”.
Van Dijk expressed his gratitude towards Klopp, the manager who brought him to the club in January 2018. Under Klopp’s leadership, Liverpool has achieved great success, winning a Champions League and Premier League title, as well as domestic cups and the Club World Cup. The team is currently in the running for this year’s domestic title and has also made it to the final of the Carabao Cup. They are still competing in the FA Cup and Europa League this season.
“But Van Dijk stated in an interview released by the team that he ultimately chose what was best for himself and his family. It was a difficult decision, as expected. He informed us privately and we all came together. It’s a tough situation, but our goal is to stay focused on our goals. We still have many achievements to reach this year and it would be great to end the season successfully and celebrate with our manager.”
Van Dijk was speaking in advance of Sunday’s home FA Cup tie with Norwich, the fourth round of Klopp’s final assault on a competition the club won in 2022. Each match will represent another step towards Klopp’s exit, and pressure will be on Liverpool’s players to give a manager beloved among fans a glorious send-off.
“I believe we constantly attempt to control external distractions,” stated Van Dijk. “This is obviously significant news in the world of football. It was also a significant day for us. However, our goals for this year are substantial and our manager has emphasized that.”
“Perhaps it will even provide you with an additional motivation to put in that extra effort, or maybe even find more enjoyment in it while doing it together. This will help make the rest of the season, and the remaining time for the manager at the club, the most fulfilling experience he has ever had. This is our goal and that is why we continue to operate as usual.”
Klopp’s statement on Friday was a major breaking story, but recent reports indicate that the club had already started reaching out to potential candidates through their agents. It is possible that the fear of a leak prompted the sudden announcement. The Liverpool leadership was made aware in November of his decision to step down, as he stated on Friday: “I am aware that I cannot continue to do this job repeatedly.” He also mentioned taking a year off from football, which he did after leaving Borussia Dortmund in 2015, only to take over as Liverpool’s manager in October of the same year.
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There is currently ongoing speculation about who will replace Klopp as manager, with Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen, Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton, Thomas Frank from Brentford, and Ange Postecoglou from Tottenham being the top contenders. Klopp’s assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, along with elite development coach Vítor Matos, will also be leaving with him. Sporting director Jörg Schmadtke will also be departing after the winter transfer window closes on February 1st, creating another position for Liverpool to fill.
Source: theguardian.com
