Van Dyke: No contract extension on hold, Liverpool still need to go all out
In the second leg of the Champions League 1/8 final, Liverpool lost 0-1 to Paris Saint-Germain at home and were eliminated 1-4 in the penalty shootout. After the match, Liverpool captain Van Dyke accepted a joint interview with several media. The Dutch star not only talked about his team’s performance, but also responded to questions about his future.
Did you play your last Champions League game?
Asked if he thought he had played his last Champions League game for Liverpool, van Dijk appeared to be very honest while maintaining his usual calm demeanour. ‘I don’t know,’ he said, ’I can’t really be sure at the moment. If anyone says they know the answer, they’re lying. The contract extension talks aren’t on hold, but there’s nothing new to reveal at this point either.’
Van Dyke emphasised that his full focus is on the next 10 games. ‘I keep saying the same thing: if there’s any news, you’ll be the first to know. I’m not sure exactly what’s going on with the contract extension right now, but there are definitely some conversations going on behind the scenes, that’s all.’ He is open about his future, but also made it clear that right now he just wants to focus on helping the team win more.
Feelings about being knocked out of the tournament
On his team losing on penalties, Van Dyke admits it was hard to accept but admits it’s part of football. ‘Penalty shoot-outs are like the lottery, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I want to congratulate Paris Saint-Germain and wish them all the best for the rest of the tournament.’ He said, ‘We did everything we could to qualify, especially in regular time. Last week’s game put us in a good position to win 1-0 despite a not-so-perfect performance.’
Van Dyke believes that Liverpool actually played much better in this game than in the first leg. ‘We created a lot of chances in the opening stages, but unfortunately we couldn’t capitalise on them. And the opponents obviously took their chances. In extra time, they controlled the tempo well, shifting the ball frequently and making us have to keep running and defending.’ He added, ‘This is football, sometimes you lose the game because of some details, such as the penalty shootout.’
Paris’ performance and team reflections
Despite being eliminated, Van Dyke still recognised Paris Saint-Germain’s performance. ‘They did well, but if you look at what we did in regular time, we weren’t really that bad. Unfortunately, in the end penalties sealed our fate.’ He mentioned that Liverpool showed a different look in the first leg, ‘Honestly, our pressure made our opponents feel threatened. But the reality is that we are out of the Champions League and have to accept the result.’
However, Van Dyke also took positives from the game. ‘We showed a lot of good things today, and although we can do better, overall I’m proud of the team’s performance.’ He thought it was a great match-up, especially from a spectator’s point of view. ‘There was a lot of confrontation and a lot of running, especially in regular time. But in the end, Paris progressed and we didn’t. That’s the cruelty of football.’
The effects of fatigue and line-up changes
Speaking about whether the team was affected by fatigue, Van Dyke admitted that it was a factor, but not the only reason. ‘Yes, fatigue did start to show, but we tried to change things up with substitutions. Maybe some parts of the game looked a bit disjointed in the final stages, but every player sitting on the bench needs to do their best to play their part.’
He also singled out Arnold’s situation. ‘I haven’t spoken to Arnold yet because I haven’t seen him. I’m not sure how his injury is, but hopefully it’s just a minor issue. If Kwanza needs to fill in at right-back, I’m sure he’ll show himself in the best possible way. He has proved his ability in the last few weeks and was outstanding today.’
LOOKING AHEAD: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP & LEAGUE CUP
Despite the disappointment of the Champions League exit, Van Dyke said the team still has two important goals – the Premier League title and the League Cup. ‘We don’t need extra motivation because we still have 10 games to play. We can win the Premier League title and we can also lift the League Cup trophy this Sunday. If you need more motivation then you’re probably in the wrong place!’ He half-joked.
Van Dyke urged fans to continue to support the team, especially in the upcoming League Cup final. ‘All fans want to celebrate a win, that’s normal. But we need them to stand with us, especially in moments like this. No final is easy and we need the support of our fans to help us overcome the difficulties.’
Optimism in the face of challenges
Van Dyke ended the interview with his usual optimism. ‘We are really disappointed tonight, but from tomorrow we will regroup. If we can show the same intensity at Wembley on Sunday then I am confident of the result. I’ve always been an optimist and I’m really looking forward to stepping onto that pitch again.’
He concluded by emphasising that the team still has two more trophies up for grabs, so everyone must give it their all. ‘Now we have 10 games left to play and we will fight hard. Hopefully, at the end of the day, we will have something wonderful to celebrate.’
Holding on to the Faith for the Future
Van Dyke‘s statement reflected both a clear-eyed understanding of the current state of the team and conveyed a strong sense of conviction. Whether it was about the uncertainty of his personal future or the team’s regrettable exit from the Champions League, he did not avoid the issue but chose to face the challenge head on. For Liverpool, the season is not quite over yet, with the Premier League title and the League Cup still worth fighting for. As Van Dyke said, ‘There are highs and lows in life and football, the key is to learn from them and move on.’
