Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has expressed his frustration with the team’s current situation, calling it a “mess.” Following the 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, the Dutch defender urged his teammates to take more responsibility and come together to overcome this difficult moment.
The defeat against Nottingham Forest meant the sixth in seven league games for Liverpool, placing them in eleventh position in the table, something that had not happened in more than a decade.
We are disappointing our coach, but we are also disappointing ourselves. We have to look at ourselves first and then help each other out of this mess, because at the moment it is, that’s a fact.
Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk admitted that there is anger in the locker room, but emphasized the importance of unity at this time. “It’s easy to point fingers, but we have to do it together,” he added.
The Dutch defender emphasized the need for each player to take responsibility on the field to improve collective performance. “When things are not going well, it’s easy to think about your own situation instead of the collective side,” commented Van Dijk.
The Liverpool captain recalled the team’s moments of success and the importance of staying united in difficult times. “We’ve been through this together and won the league, and everyone was part of it and was happy, and when you go through a difficult time you have to be united and not point fingers.”
Van Dijk concluded by stating that the team must show strength and determination to overcome this situation. “You have to be a man and face the hardship and try again, and again, because if you want to give up, you are in the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has gone through a lot of adversity over the years and we have always come out on top.”
The next challenge for Liverpool will be on Wednesday at home against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
Just a month ago, Van Dijk called a meeting among the players after the home defeat against Manchester United.
The player did not rule out another meeting to try to get the situation back on track. “I don’t plan these things now, but let’s see how I am when I think about it and I hope the rest of the guys also think about how we can turn this around because I think the understanding is that we are in a very difficult moment,” he said.
On the other hand, Nottingham Forest, with goals from Murillo, Nicola Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White, is in good form, with three wins, two draws and only one defeat in six matches under the direction of new coach Sean Dyche.
