Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk hails Jurgen Klopp’s man-management in wake of Champions League triumph

The Dutchman, however, paid tribute to Klopp on Saturday night, claiming that he has created a work ethic and community spirit that is behind Liverpool’s success

Virgil van Dijk has hailed Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp for fostering a “togetherness” which led them to victory in Saturday’s Champions League final.

Van Dijk and his team-mates lifted Liverpool’s sixth European Cup on Saturday night, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. The victory earned the first trophy of Klopp’s spell in charge, following three-and-a-half years of gradual progress since his appointment.

Van Dijk, who joined last year in a £75million move from Southampton, has proved to be a transformational signings, turning Liverpool’s defence into one of the meanest in English and European football. The Dutchman, however, paid tribute to Klopp on Saturday night, claiming that he has created a work ethic and community spirit that is behind Liverpool’s success.

“It comes from the manager, of course. He says a lot of things to us that touch us really,” Van Dijk revealed. “We want to keep working hard for all of these fans but also for your team-mates next to you, for everyone working in the club, that works for you and want to make every day the best you can get basically.

“The people at Melwood, for example, the people who work at the stadium. Everyone who is connected with Liverpool you want to make them proud and the manager definitely put that in our heads even more.

“I think everyone has that already in their heads, but it’s something that… a togetherness there at the moment. I’ve never really experienced it like this. It’s very special. We deserve this season to win something and to be winning a Champions League is special.”

Asked what Klopp has said that he and his team-mates have found so affecting, Van Dijk replied: “Loads of stuff. It’s something that just touched us. It’s not like you only play for yourself, you play for everyone who’s been connected, you play for everyone who is always there for you.

“I’ve played for Celtic and for Groningen and Southampton all of those clubs are real family clubs. They’re always going to be there for you no matter what. That was definitely something that I want to have. I want to be playing for fans who are really there for you, that are going to be there.

“If we lost today, they would still be there, pick us up, we go again. That’s something I really care about and I want to care about all of them and fight for them every day and they do the same for us.”

Like many of team-mates, Van Dijk believes this is only the beginning for Liverpool. “It’s not like we’re going away. In July we start again,” he said. “Everyone starts even and we go again. We’re going to try everything we can to be challenging for the title, challenging for the Champions League but also for the cups.

“We definitely want to have these nights more often. But it’s not easy and the only thing to do is keep believing, keep working hard, stay humble and I think we’ll definitely be doing that as that’s how we are.”