Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has opened up on the transitional period the Reds are going through in a recent interview.
Virgil van Dijk has revealed in an interview with Tubantia that Liverpool have added a number of new players, and they are looking to put together a formidable squad capable of challenging at the highest level once again.
Liverpool have enjoyed great success under Jurgen Klopp, and the German manager helped them win every single trophy at the club level. However, that team has been dismantled over the last few months. A number of players have been released and sold in order to make way for new signings.
Klopp is clearly looking to bring in quality young players who can help them challenge for major trophies once again. The Liverpool midfield for example has a completely new look after the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.
Despite all the chopping and changing in pretty much every area of the squad, van Dijk remains an integral part of Liverpool’s rebuild. Klopp has not only shown his confidence in him as a player, but he also believes that the Dutchman is the right person to lead the side.
Van Dijk was handed the captain’s armband at Liverpool earlier this summer, and the Dutchman revealed his gratitude for the gesture. He also added that he is looking to guide the side through the rebuild and help them compete at the highest level consistently once again.
“We are in a kind of transition phase with Liverpool,” he said before continuing, “So of course, it’s nice to feel that the manager still considers me part of the new team, of Liverpool 2.0, so to speak. We spoke a lot in the first weeks of preparation. That showed confidence. Yes, certainly thanks to that captaincy.”
Liverpool had a disappointing 2022/23 Premier League campaign, and they missed out on Champions League qualification. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back strongly and get back into the top four this time around.
A club of their stature will be expected to compete at the highest level and challenge for the league title every season. There is no doubt that they have a talented squad, but they need some experience and chemistry in order to truly compete with elite clubs like Manchester City once again.
