While captain Virgil van Dijk praised Liverpool’s coach after a conversation with Dutch coach Arne Slot, his colleague Ten Hag made sarcastic comments.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has stepped down at the end of the season after nine years at the club. Under Klopp’s guidance, captain Van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold have become key players.
Van Dijk hopes Liverpool boss will help team develop
Both Klopp stars are approaching the end of their contracts, raising questions about their futures. However, captain Van Dijk has given an update on his new direction at Liverpool, telling Dutch outlet NOS Voetbal: “I am still the captain and I have a year left on my contract. Nothing is happening at the moment. I am a Liverpool player and I am only focused on the team.”
The legendary Dutch centre-back said he had spoken to Liverpool manager Arne Slot: “The conversation was good. We discussed everything, the squad and my personal situation. The Liverpool players have full confidence in the club and their decisions.
Captain Van Dijk and vice-captain Arnold will remain at Anfield for at least another season. Photo: GETTY.
Of course, change is always a bit uncertain, but I always believe Liverpool will develop well under the new manager. We are all looking forward to the new season. The club has a good manager, good logistics, and we have a very strong team. Let’s see what happens.”
Van Dijk has been a regular at Anfield since arriving in January 2018. Apart from the 2020-21 campaign, he has played at least 32 Premier League games in each campaign, finishing the last campaign with 36. He has been instrumental in helping the club to Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League victories.
The Liverpool captain has also given his backing to fellow countryman Arne Slot as Liverpool’s next manager. The Dutch defender has revealed that he is looking forward to working under Slot and continuing Klopp’s legacy .
Coach Ten Hag’s message to his colleague Slot
Liverpool will hope new signing Arne Slot can build on their third-place finish this season and help them to a second Premier League title. Captain Virgil van Dijk is also keen to go for glory, as he approaches his 33rd birthday. The Dutch defender is also keen to add a European Cup to his impressive collection.
However, in contrast to the player’s wishes for Liverpool’s new manager, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has taken a light-hearted jab at Arne Slot, who left Feyenoord earlier this month.
Ten Hag told Football365: “People have talked too much about Feyenoord (Slot’s team). Feyenoord has been consistent this year, but not at their peak. PSV Eindhoven are a much better team in every area, in terms of ball control, in terms of pressure, in terms of intensity,…”
Coach Ten Hag sarcastically said Slot did not do as well at Feyenoord this season as PSV. Photo: GETTY.
Slot, who joined Feyenoord in 2021, helped his former club finish third in the Eredivisie table in his first season before winning the title in 2022-23 . However, Feyenoord failed to win back-to-back titles as they finished seven points behind PSV Eindhoven this season.
The 45-year-old Dutch coach Slot has led Feyenoord to 97 wins and just 24 defeats in 148 matches in all competitions. In addition to winning an Eredivisie title, he also helped the club win a KNVB Beker Cup.
