Van Dijk attributes Champions League final success to Klopp’s team talk

Virgil van Dijk has praised Jurgen Klopp for delivering pre-match team talks that inspired his side to a first Champions League final victory in 14 years.

The Reds overcame Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid on Saturday to lift the coveted trophy, with goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi sealing the win.

Van Dijk has received constant plaudits this season for his imperious performances at the back for Liverpool, but the Dutchman directed attention towards his manager in the wake of the win.

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Photograph: Alex Caparros/UEFA via Getty Images

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“It comes from the manager, of course,” van Dijk said, as quoted by the Evening Standard.

“It’s something [he said] that just touched us. It’s not like you only play for yourself, you play for everyone who’s been connected, you play for everyone who is always there for you.

“We want to keep working hard for all of these fans but also for your team-mates next to you, for everyone working in the club, that works for you and want to make every day the best you can get basically.

“The people at Melwood, for example, the people who work at the stadium. Everyone who is connected with Liverpool you want to make them proud and the manager definitely put that in our heads even more.

“I think everyone has that already in their heads, but [there is] a togetherness there at the moment. I’ve never really experienced it like this.”

He added: “You see Liverpool from the outside. You see what a fantastic fanbase there is,” he added.

“I’ve noticed it when I didn’t even sign for Liverpool but there was talk of me going to Liverpool and I went to the final in Cardiff. That was a big thing for me.

“I’ve played for Celtic, Groningen and Southampton, and all of those clubs are real family clubs. They’re always going to be there for you no matter what.

“That was definitely something that I want to have. I want to be playing for fans who are really there for you, that are going to be there.

“If we lost today, they would still be there, pick us up, we go again. That’s something I really care about and I want to care about all of them and fight for them every day and they do the same for us.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com