‘We didn’t deserve Champions League’: Virgil van Dijk admits in Liverpool press conference

Liverpool kick up their Europa League campaign against Austrian side LASK tomorrow. What began as a potentially tense week following the international break with captain and all-world defender Virgil Van Dijk suspended for his response to being sent off against Newcastle. However, Liverpool responded from the break with another outstanding come-from-behind victory over Wolverhampton Rovers to maintain their unbeaten record.

Now that Van Dijk has returned to captain the team, and with Ibrahima Konate’s return from injury last week, the first-choice defense is practically complete, with only Trent Alexander-Arnold to care for. As a result, Jurgen Klopp chose the Dutchman to speak at the pre-match press conference.

Van Dijk answered many of the questions with characteristic candor, most notably delivering a scathing appraisal of Liverpool’s previous season record, which landed them in the Europa League.

We all wanted to be in the Champions League before the season concluded last year. That is what we fought for, yet we did not earn it. We deserved the Europa League, so we’re going to give it all we’ve got – and we want to give it everything we’ve got. We want to try to win it, but it does not happen overnight, therefore we must work for it, which begins tomorrow.

It’s difficult to disagree with the captain there, given Liverpool’s up and down season wasn’t quite deserving of a spot in Europe’s elite league. (Given United’s result against Bayern, I can’t help but wonder what may have happened if this seemingly more robust and durable – though sluggish to start – squad had been given a shot against the Champions League opponents.)

Van Dijk also answered a question about his recent ban for the aforementioned red card.

It has been really irritating for me, but it has also offered me many benefits. I really liked the team spirit, the results, and the way we worked as a team. Everything happens for a purpose, in my opinion. I’m back, and I’m really looking forward to it. I was fortunate that there were two international games in between; otherwise, it would have been a long time before I could play again.

Fortunately for us, Liverpool relies greatly on his intelligence and leadership on the field.