Netherlands’ captain Virgil van Dijk admitted that new head coach Xavi played a key role in his stay with the national team. The veteran defender has made 96 appearances for his country but said last month he was contemplating his international future after the departure of Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman.
Koeman decided to relinquish his duties in June after the Netherlands’ last-32 loss against Morocco at the FIFA World Cup. The Dutch will begin their UEFA Nations League campaign against Jurgen Klopp’s Germany on Thursday.
“Obviously it was a massive decision,” Van Dijk said. “I had to feel the confidence and the combination of respect and joy and everything I wanted. That was from the first second the case, so the conversation didn’t need to be that long. But it was very good, so I am really looking forward to meeting up for the important four games. Let’s make the next two years at least an amazing time.”
Van Dijk also helped Liverpool secure a 1-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
“Clean sheets are always a good sign,” Van Dijk said. “Everyone is playing a big part in that. I know how sometimes it can work, where maybe only the defenders or the goalkeeper get the plaudits for it, but it is down to everyone.
“The guys up front and the midfielders put in the hard work, and it is a great base to build on.”
Reflecting on his forming partnership with summer signing Jérémy Jacquet, the Liverpool defender added: “He has had an excellent start, but we are only in September. I want him to keep working and keep learning. I am sure he will.
“There is obviously a lot of praise and rightly so, but I know how it works when you play a game not at the standards you have set. So let’s just stay calm, keep working, and try and stay important for us like he was today again.
“It is still a work in progress. There are still things we can improve but you learn by playing games. I said at the start that you experience things in games and see how each other react to certain moments, and then you adapt to that. It is still a work in progress, but so far, it is good. For him personally, he is 21-years-old.
“He is very promising but it is up to him to keep working hard and stay calm.”
