It has been an intense week for Jurgen Klopp as he prepares to say goodbye to Liverpool.
Sunday marks the end of an era at Anfield, with Klopp taking charge of his 491st and final game as manager of the Reds.
Having had such a huge impact on the club’s history, the 56-year-old was always going to get a hero’s send-off. And after Liverpool’s season fell apart in April, Klopp was more-or-less freed up to enjoy his last weeks without too much pressure.
So far, this has seen heartfelt goodbye’s from the likes of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and former players such as Adam Lallana.
But according to Klopp, his current first-team squad have also been paying tribute to their gaffer this week, with captain Virgil van Dijk leading the way.
Jurgen Klopp hails ‘incredible’ Virgil van Dijk gesture
Van Dijk has had a brilliant season for Liverpool. It’s true that Jordan Henderson will forever remain the captain of the Klopp era, but the Dutchman has been an excellent successor.
As well as leading by example on the pitch, it sounds like Van Dijk takes his role seriously around the AXA Training Centre, too.
It was always going to be especially difficult for players like the 32-year-old to wave farewell to the only Liverpool manager they’ve ever known.
But in quotes from the Liverpool ECHO, Klopp says that Van Dijk did an ‘incredible’ job of speaking about him on behalf of the group.
“I know myself, I am super-emotional,” explained the manager. “In a little moment, I was super-emotional this week. On Thursday, the players did an incredibly nice thing speaking about me and other members of staff who are leaving, Virgil did incredible. I only had to make a joke here and there.
“If I had started to say what I think, I would have been gone (emotionally). I knew it. Nobody will remember what I said yesterday, it was just to protect myself. Sunday will obviously have to be the right things.”
Could Virgil van Dijk leave Liverpool too?
It isn’t just Klopp leaving Liverpool on Sunday. As we’ve known for a little while, the boss will also take plenty of his coaching staff with him.
On the playing side of things, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara will be saying their own goodbye’s to Anfield as well.
There is of course a transfer window coming up, though. As happened with Sadio Mane in 2022 and Henderson last year, there’s always a chance that a proper goodbye will not be possible.
This year, there will be the most worry that the same fate could befall Van Dijk. The centre-back has been a legendary figure for Liverpool ever since arriving in 2018. When the time comes he deserves a proper send-off, too.
But with one year left on his contract, there’s a worry that if a good bid comes in, Van Dijk could be off. For the time being, it looks more possible that he stays to either play out the last 12 months of his deal or signs a new one. Until things become clearer though, anxiety will remain.
