Virgil Van Dijk Becomes First Livepool Player to Openly Speak on Jurgen Klopp’s Departure

• Liverpool captain Virgin Van Dijk has spoken on the impending departure of Jurgen Klopp
• Klopp announced on Friday he would leave Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season
• Liverpool players were reportedly unaware of Klopp’s potential exit

Virgil Van Dijk has become the first active Liverpool player to speak on the impending departure of Jurgen Klopp, admitting he was struggling to come to terms with the news.

Klopp sent shockwaves in the footballing world on Friday, January 26 after revealing his intentions to end a nine-year association with Liverpool.

Multiple reports from England claim Liverpool players were unaware of Klopp’s decision, and the announcement caught many by surprise.

Van Dijk, in an interview with the club, admitted he was having difficulty coming to terms with the inevitable.

"It's a hard one to take because the manager means so much for us, to me,” the 32-year-old said, as quoted in Liverpool Echo.

Suarez re-unites with Messi, targets Copa America

Football

He added, "I think it will be a collective feeling and like I said already, I didn't have any feeling so far that that wasn't the case. I think [Klopp's decision] just should give you that extra boost, that special feeling that let's make the most out of it.”

Van Dijk was signed by Klopp from Celtic in January 2018, midway through Klopp’s third season with the Reds. He has spent more than five trophy-laden years with the German tactician.

With Liverpool being in all four competitions available to them this season, Van Dijk is hoping to give Klopp a proper farewell with some silverware success.

"It will maybe even give you an extra boost to do that extra or maybe enjoy it a little bit more together and make the last part of the season - the last bit of the manager's time at the club - the best time he's ever had,” he said.

Eric Dier finally discloses why he has refused to move into Harry Kane's mansion after Bayern move

Football

Can Klopp make a U-turn?

Despite Klopp’s announcement, some Liverpool fans still hold out hope that the former Borussia Dortmund manager might come around.

But Klopp shut down any chances of returning to his initial decision, saying at a press conference on Friday that he would not do what Sir Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United.

Fergie was on the verge of leaving the Old Trafford club at some point but eventually decided to stay, according to Manchester Evening News.

When Klopp inadvertently endorsed De Zerbi

Still on Jurgen Klopp news, Sports Brief reported on how the German subtly expressed his admiration for Roberto de Zerbi.

De Zerbi, who is currently managing Brighton, has been heavily linked with the Liverpool job since Klopp announced he was leaving.

In October 2023, Klopp’s Liverpool was frustrated by Brighton, and the former Borussia Dortmund manager had some interesting things to say about his opposite number.