‘In a world of chaos you have to stay calm’published at 22:25 GMT 4 November
22:25 GMT 4 November
FT: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, speaking to Amazon Prime: “I think there was a lot of energy and a lot of hard work. Obviously, they have won 14 in the last 15 – they have a lot of quality. We know their strengths.
“So, we had to be spot on in everything we do. I think we performed our gameplan perfectly.
“It is easy to say now because we won twice in a row – in a world of chaos you have to stay calm and see perspective of things.”
On standing up to criticism from pundits: “I am living with players that might have been affected by it. If you lose a game for Liverpool – four, five games – there is criticism – that is normal in a sense.
“It is over the top at times. I think it’s because we live in the world of so many platforms, so many people can say stuff, and it can be picked up. Ex-players that played at the highest level had difficult moments as well.
“I want to perform for the team, the club and everyone who supports us through thick and thin.”
On keeping a clean sheet: “You can see at the moment Arsenal are flying, and it is down to clean sheets and not conceding chances.
“We have the quality to hurt anyone on the break – it starts with the defending. Today you saw the hard work.
“We have to keep going. Sunday is going to be another difficult one. We all know how football works – it can change over night.”