Virgil van Dijk has spoken about the values he was taught when he arrived at Liverpool and will take them forward and hopes this current group can eventually retain the top flight title.
Virgil van Dijk wants to “continue to carry on” the Liverpool values taught to him by Jurgen Klopp and Jordan Henderson, and urged those who follow him in leadership roles to prioritize them.
The Dutchman’s arrival was the catalyst for Liverpool’s recent success, winning the Champions League trophy 18 months after signing. He joined manager Klopp’s team, with Henderson on the pitch as his deputy. Van Dijk will take on the role following the England midfielder’s departure.
He led the Reds to their second Premier League title last season, but insists Liverpool are all about graft and giving back to their fans.
They enter the season as defending champions, but after starting the season with five consecutive wins, back-to-back losses have deprived Arsenal of the top spot. Van Dijk insists his players’ ultimate goal is to remain the “biggest club” in the country.
He told Leitch: “The most important thing is the culture of the club and that will never change. That’s the most important thing to maintain at Liverpool. There are values at the club that everyone has to live by. It all starts with these values, working hard, doing it for the fans around the world and hopefully succeeding.”
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“The quality is there but there are no guarantees, so you have to work for it first and foremost every day to make it happen in the game. You know from when I was at the club, obviously with Jurgen[Klopp]as manager and Hendo[Jordan Henderson]as captain, I wanted to carry on with the values that they showed me back then.”
“That’s how it should be for the next few years and whatever happens after I finally have to leave. I say there is a Liverpool way and that is the key and the start of our success.”
“Being the biggest club[in England]is definitely a goal for the club and it’s definitely a goal for us as players as well. We want to be[champions]and we love staying at the top, but I think the Premier League is very, very difficult.”
Van Dijk could very well have become a back-to-back Premier League champion had Manchester City not refused to win the Premier League twice in a huge title race. The defender has seen them retain the crown many times and knows it’s a box he and the players still need to check.
“It’s very difficult to retain a title after winning it. We didn’t do it after winning last time (2020), Manchester City managed to do it, but it’s very difficult,” he said.
Cadbury Ambassador Virgil Van Dyk celebrates game changers across the country, celebrating those who offer small acts that make a big difference. For more information, visit @cadburyuk on Instagram.
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