Van Dijk: “It’s a Great Time to Be a Liverpool Player’

Virgil van Dijk and his teammates have more than earned their self-belief heading into the season’s final stretch.

If everything goes right for Liverpool over the next few weeks, they will play eight more games this season. Their four league matches are set, and a win in Porto would guarantee at least two more in Europe—with the promise and potential of one more after that.

And that’s just what Virgil van Dijk is targeting: eight games and glory. Far from being nervous about it, the Dutch centre half is embracing the pressure of a title race and another deep run in Europe and setting his sights on making history this season at Liverpool.

“It’s going to be tough, but it’s a great time to be a Liverpool player,” Van Dijk said. “We have eight games left, fingers crossed, so we have to give it everything. That’s what we have to do, just focus on ourselves, give it everything we have, and see where it takes us.

“And if you think about it, what is eight games? You have to believe. You know, just go for it. We want to reach the final again because that is what we are here for. We are not thinking we are through, but hopefully we can finish the job and move into the next round.”

It’s been a long season, kicking off all the way back on August 12th against West Ham in the league, and there has been eight months of hard, draining work to get from there to here. With eight games to play—fingers crossed—and a chance to do something special.

So while at times, perhaps, there has been pressure, that confidence Van Dijk and the rest of the Liverpool team are feeling heading into the final stretch has by now been well and truly earned. Eight months and 45 games down. One month and eight now to go.

“We will play our game,” he added. “We are not going to defend the 2-0, we want to attack and play like we have all season. Hopefully we create chances and score an away goal or two to make it tough for them. If we score we know they will need four to go through.”

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com