Virgil van Dijk mentioned he’s utilizing the ache of the Netherlands’ World Cup penalty shootout defeat to eventual champions Argentina as gas to get Liverpool’s season again on observe.
Van Dijk was certainly one of two Dutch gamers to overlook the shootout after a bad-tempered quarter-final ended 2–2.
The Dutchman mentioned his focus is now on getting sixth-placed Liverpool again into the Premier League’s high 4, though a title problem appears to be like unlikely as they’re 15 factors behind leaders Arsenal.
“It … has motivated me right here (at Liverpool). We are properly behind Arsenal, however the season might be very, very unusual,” he mentioned.
“We have to be realistic and we are not thinking about the title at the moment. We have to focus on the game ahead, win the game and then we will see.”
The World Cup quarter-final in opposition to Argentina noticed 16 yellow playing cards and one sending-off, wherein Van Dijk was concerned in an altercation with Leandro Paredes the place he wrestled the midfielder to the bottom.
Van Dijk mentioned he has had a while to mirror on the “intense game” and hopes to steer the Netherlands to Nations League glory on the finish of the season on residence soil.
“(Pushing on Paredes) was obviously something I wouldn’t normally do, but it was the heat of the moment and we’re all human, these things happen,” Van Dijk mentioned.
“It fuels me ultimately, form or kind as a result of I wish to achieve success with the Netherlands. I really feel like we have now an excellent group and a brand new period with Ronald Koeman (changing coach Louis van Gaal) and Young gamers are coming again.
“Hopefully we can do something good with the Nations League final in the summer. It would be a good step forward and it’s something I really want to win, even if it’s the end of the season when you’re probably completely shattered.” Have gone
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
