“The only thing that matters now” — Virgil van Dijk on Klopp’s exit

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has come out to reveal what the plans are moving forward following Klopp‘s announcement of his departure at the end of the season.

The Dutch defender sat down with the club’s media team and expressed the emotional impact the news had on the team and the club as a whole.

“It’s a hard one to take because the manager means so much for us, to me, to the club, to the whole Premier League, I think. But he made the decision for him and his family. It was always going to be a tough one, and it was definitely the case,” van Dijk revealed when asked about his reaction to the news.

The announcement, made privately to the players, brought a mix of emotions among the squad. Virgil van Dijk shed light on the moment, saying,

“He told us in private, of course, and all of us were together. Like I said, it’s a hard one to take, but our mindset is to focus on business. We have a lot of targets still to achieve this year, and why not finish the season on a high and together with celebrations for the boss as well?”

Despite the significant news, Virgil van Dijk emphasized the team’s commitment to maintaining their focus amidst the media frenzy.

“I think how we always try to manage noise from the outside. Of course, this is massive news in football. For us, it was also a very big day. But we have big targets this year, and that’s definitely stressed by the manager as well.”

The Liverpool captain echoed Klopp‘s sentiment that it’s “business as usual” and outlined the team’s determination to make the remainder of the season special.

“It will maybe even give you an extra boost to do that extra or maybe enjoy it a little bit even more together and make the last part of the season, the last bit of the manager’s time at the club, the best time he’s ever had. That’s what we strive for, and that’s why it’s business as usual,” he asserted.

Addressing the added responsibility as captain, Virgil van Dijk acknowledged,

“Definitely. I think for me personally, like I said, my mindset is making sure our goals that we have and our targets that we are trying to achieve don’t get disrupted by the news. That’s what the manager wants as well.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures against Norwich, Chelsea, and Arsenal, van Dijk emphasized the team’s readiness and the importance of staying focused.

“That’s the beauty of football as well. We are ready for the FA Cup this weekend, and it’s going to be a tough one, a big one. We have players coming back, so that’s a big positive too, and we need everyone – and that’s what we have been showing throughout the whole season.”

Rallying the team’s collective spirit, Virgil van Dijk said;

“Let’s go out there and enjoy it all, be there together as a group of players but definitely together and connected with the fans and everyone who supports us around the world. That’s how we always have been doing and creating success.”