Virgil van Dijk admitted that Jurgen Klopp's final day at Liverpool is going to be "horrible" as the defender also dropped his own future bombshell.
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Klopp to leave Anfield at the end of the seasonVan Dijk admits a lot will change after Klopp's departureUnsure of his own future at AnfieldWHAT HAPPENED?
Liverpool's towering Dutch defender has revealed his sadness as Klopp, one of the club's most iconic managers, prepares to bid farewell to Anfield after nine remarkable years at the helm. The German manager's announcement of his departure sent shockwaves through the footballing world, catching many by surprise. Citing the need for a break from the game, Klopp's decision marks the end of an illustrious era marked by tangible success in the form of trophies and unwavering passion.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT VAN DIJK SAID
Van Dijk, who has been a cornerstone of Klopp's Liverpool side since his move from Southampton in 2018, made it evident that he is still grappling to come to terms with the impending exit of his manager.
"Very difficult," he told . "I’m a very emotional person, and I don't like to say goodbyes. Being the captain now, it's gonna be horrible in the sense you probably have to speak a little bit. And like I say that day I'll be dreading.
"It makes it a lot easier if we have success. So that's the aim at the moment. But it's difficult and it's not only the boss who is leaving, it's going to be a lot of changes and more staff leaving, but it will be a tough day. Until that day, we’ll fight and be positive and put all of our focus and effort into that and make the season successful."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Reflecting on Klopp's legacy, Van Dijk hailed the German manager as a "monumental figure" who has profoundly impacted Liverpool.
"It's pretty clear that he’s been a monumental figure for the club for so many years," he said.
"If you think about Liverpool you think about Jurgen Klopp, so he's been very important for the fans who are very important, getting me to the football club and telling me I’m a very important piece of the puzzle. He deserves all the applause that he will get."
VAN DIJK COMMENTS ON HIS FUTURE
Van Dijk has just a year remaining on his contract and there's an air of uncertainty surrounding his own future at Liverpool. When pressed about his potential involvement in a new era following Klopp's departure, he remained non-committal and said: "That's a big question. I don't know."
