'Emotional' Virgil van Dijk dreading Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool farewell | OneFootball

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admits he is dreading saying farewell to manager Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.

Klopp announced in January that he would be stepping aside this summer after nearly nine years in charge, during which time he has won every major honour available to him - the Europa League aside.

Van Dijk has been an integral part of Klopp’s Anfield story, having signed in January 2018 from Southampton in a record £75m deal.

The Dutchman was a vital component of the teams which won the Champions League and Premier League titles, as well as multiple cups, later being appointed as club captain.

And while the 32-year-old remains optimistic over what the future will bring for the Reds, he says the end of an era is now upon the club.

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"I am quite an emotional person and I always find it very difficult to say goodbye to someone. That will certainly be the case now,” Van Dijk told Voetbal International.

"It's not just the manager who goes, it's more people. Pepijn [Lijnders], an important person in the staff...and I could go on and on. Saying goodbye is not something I am looking 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 and even more often than your own wife and children. You experience highlights together, but also difficult moments. That creates a bond that 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."

Van Dijk admits he wasn’t up to standard last season

Van Dijk also admits that he was at times underperforming last season as Liverpool slumped to fifth place in the Premier League and were eliminated from all the cup competitions earlier than expected.

"Last year didn't go well and I'm one of the contributing players at Liverpool and the Netherlands. I realise that, I'm proud of that,” he said.

"I played very good games last year, but also duels in which I was much less, which were not up to the standard I set myself.

"Then you have to deal with the criticism and I admit that, like every human being, I am not always immune to that. I understand very well that criticism is part of the job and that's fine. But sometimes you can handle it better than other times.

"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.”

Carabao Cup Final Chelsea v Liverpool Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool with the Carabao Cup during the Carabao Cup Final match Chelsea vs Liverpool at Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom, 25th February 2024 Photo by Gareth Evans/News Images London Wembley Stadium Greater London United Kingdom Copyright: xGarethxEvans/NewsxImagesx

The Reds are in with a shout of a treble this season having already won the Carabao Cup, where Van Dijk netted the winner in the final against Chelsea, competing with Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League title, as well as facing a Europa League quarter-final against Atalanta.

And the Dutch captain is adamant that Klopp and his team can end on a high.

"Physically and mentally, I feel strong and good,” he said. “I just want to win everything. We're looking good with Liverpool at the moment and we can still take nice prizes like the championship and the Europa League.

"I want to receive those as captain of this wonderful club and if everything goes along and falls right, I may also hold up a trophy once as captain of the Dutch national team."

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