Virgil van Dijk stated 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 monitor.
Van Dijk was certainly one of two Dutch gamers to overlook within the shootout after an ill-tempered quarter-final ended 2-2.
The Dutchman stated his focus now’s on guiding sixth-placed Liverpool again into the Premier League prime 4, although a title problem seems unlikely as they sit 15 factors behind leaders Arsenal.
“It has … motivated me right here (at Liverpool). We’re fairly some factors behind Arsenal however the season might be a really loopy one, a really unusual one,” he added.
“We have now to be sensible and we’re not serious about the title in the intervening time. We have now to deal with the sport forward of us, win video games, after which we’ll see.”
The World Cup quarter-final in opposition to Argentina had 16 yellow playing cards and one sending off, with Van Dijk concerned in an altercation with Leandro Paredes the place he shoved the midfielder to the bottom.
Van Dijk stated he has since had a while to mirror on the “intense sport” and hoped to guide the Netherlands to Nations League glory on the finish of the season on dwelling soil.
“(The shove on Paredes) was clearly one thing I don’t usually do however it was the warmth of the second and we’re all human beings, these items occur,” Van Dijk stated.
“It fuels me in any method, form or type as a result of I need to achieve success with the Netherlands. I really feel like we’ve got a unbelievable squad and new period with Ronald Koeman coming again (changing coach Louis van Gaal) and younger gamers coming via.
“Hopefully we are able to do one thing good in the summertime with the Nations League finals. That will probably be a pleasant step and it’s one thing I actually need to win, though it’s the top of the season if you find yourself most likely completely shattered.”