Reaction'We're very disappointed' - Virgil van Dijk on Liverpool's Europa League exit
Virgil van Dijk reflected on the disappointment of Liverpool’s exit from the Europa League at the quarter-final stage despite a second-leg victory over Atalanta.
Mohamed Salah’s early penalty gave the Reds a 1-0 win in Bergamo on Thursday night, but a 3-0 defeat in last week’s first leg at Anfield proved costly for Jürgen Klopp’s side, with the Serie A outfit holding firm to progress to the last four on aggregate.
Speaking to TNT Sports afterwards, Van Dijk reacted to the end of the team’s European campaign and admitted they left themselves too much to do.
“Firstly, credit to Atalanta,” said the captain. “The damage was done last week [when] we were very poor and they had the perfect game. They deserve to go through. We made it far too difficult for ourselves with the result last week.
“Today was a good game, great fight. Obviously we won but it doesn’t feel like it really. Obviously it’s an improvement, but the reality is that we are out and we have to quickly turn this around, recover and travel to London on Saturday.
“We need everyone for that last push, and that’s the feeling that I’m getting now.”
Liverpool had hope of producing a comeback against Atalanta when Salah converted from the penalty spot after only seven minutes following a handball.
But despite dominating possession, the Reds were unable to add to their advantage and reduce the overall deficit thereafter.
“We tried,” Van Dijk said. “We had some opportunities, but the 2-0 didn’t come. Obviously there was still time, and maybe at times we wanted it too quickly. Everyone was keen to get the second and eventually the third.
“Overall, obviously it’s a much better game than we played last week, but it isn’t enough.”
He continued: “I think in the first half we were on them and we created chances. It’s about making the right decisions, and unfortunately we didn’t score the second. I think the second [goal] could have changed a lot.
“We are disappointed to go out of the competition, because it is something that we really wanted to win. But the damage was done last week and that’s something we have to be very disappointed in.”
Liverpool must now prepare themselves for a return to Premier League action, with a trip to Fulham on Sunday to come before visits to Everton and West Ham United next week.
And Van Dijk has called on the Reds to put their disappointment behind them as Klopp’s men look to deliver a strong end to the domestic campaign.
“We have to get back up,” the Dutchman said. “We have been through difficult moments all together, and we have done it before as well.
“Showing maturity, showing togetherness is the key to this, and professionalism, in order to be ready for Sunday.
“Today was a tough game and so will Sunday be. Everyone knows that and we all have a responsibility to make sure we are ready for it, physically and mentally. That’s the aim now. Everyone feels disappointed, I feel disappointed but we don’t have a lot of time to feel disappointed.
“Hopefully our fans will be there again – I have no doubt about that actually – but we will need them more than ever for the last six games of the season, where anything is still possible.”