Virgil van Dijk is confident Liverpool won’t suffer a drop off similar to Manchester United ’s when Sir Alex Ferguson left after Jurgen Klopp ’s departure.
The Kop captain doesn’t want to compare the two situations but there is now a focus on how they respond to Klopp’s exit. The Reds bid farewell to their manager yesterday on an emotion-filled day at Anfield.
Klopp, 56, leaves after restoring the club back towards the top of English and European football. The German didn’t achieve the amount of trophies or longevity of Ferguson at Old Trafford but he did deliver seven major trophies and became an iconic figure for the Reds.
Now it is the turn of Dutch boss Arne Slot to take over and Klopp delivered a backing for the incoming head coach in his farewell speech on the Anfield pitch. It was reminiscent of Ferguson’s ‘your job now is to back the new manager’ speech for David Moyes in 2013, only for the Scot to be sacked before the end of his first campaign and the club to fall way off the pace over the next decade.
But Van Dijk believes the Reds are well equipped to kick on under Slot with their young squad and senior talent. When asked if they can avoid a similar drop off, Van Dijk said: “I think so. I don't want to compare our situation to other teams but I can only see what is in there and how we have been performing the whole season.
Jurgen Klopp's approach with Robert Lewandowski bodes well for Darwin Nunez
“There is so much room for improvement, so much room to develop, personally as players but definitely as a group in certain situations and it will be interesting, I am looking forward to it and looking forward to next season already.
“Hopefully we can be up there again and be consistent. That's the main thing. We have to be together as a group and stay consistent. Even in not as good times you still have to stick together and that is something we need, especially going into next season.
“I'm not worried that's not the case so that's a good thing but it's definitely something you have to keep working on.” Van Dijk knows that there will be huge change though. Klopp is leaving but so is his whole backroom staff.
Arne Slot is set to replace Klopp at Anfield next season (ANP/AFP via Getty Images)Slot will bring in his own men from Feyenoord and elsewhere. While Michael Edwards has returned to the club in a senior role with Richard Hughes coming in as director of football from Bournemouth.
“Massive change,” Van Dijk added. “Not only the manager but there are multiple departments within the club that have a lot of staff members leaving and we are at the stage we have to trust the club in this project and this route they are taking and we will see in pre-season how things will look.
“Change is sometimes a little bit scary as you are in the unknown but the only thing you can do is trust the club and we will find out how it looks when we come back and report for pre-season.
“One thing I do know is we need a good break after our tournament because otherwise we will be in trouble as well going into the season. Hopefully the new manager will look into that as well.”
and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
