Virgil van Dijk has revealed the pain and anger Liverpool feel, at giving themselves an “impossible job” in their quest for Champions League redemption.
The Reds’ dream of returning to the final to right the wrongs of Paris are over, after a 5-2 mauling from last season’s conquerors Real Madrid...and their devastated squad knows it. But even as he bit down hard on the sour reality of that thought after the worst European defeat in Anfield history, van Dijk insisted he and his team mates must face up to the “hard reality” of their humiliation…and put it right.
“We were 2-0 up and we gave it away because of mistakes we made against Real Madrid - who punish you immediately. That is the hard reality,” he explained. “The only thing we can do in this case is watch it and make sure it doesn't happen in the next game we play, which is Crystal Palace. It sounds pretty easy but it isn't - but that's the hard reality."
Van Dijk was understandably downbeat after the humiliation at Anfield, but still had the courage to come and front up to the pain of the inquest in the aftermath.
Undoubtedly his team is devastated, but he revealed there was also an anger at the way they capitulated, and he said that is something Liverpool must not forget as they strive to save their season.
“Everyone is angry, everyone is obviously disappointed. And the way we lost, almost not giving ourselves a chance in Madrid, is tough. It’s hard that we have almost an impossible job in Madrid,” he said.
“It is difficult, but it is the hard reality and something we have to deal with, we have to deal with as a group, as a unit. It's not been the easiest season so far but the only way to get out of it is to stick together and that's the message – even after now.”
Van Dijk made no attempt to hide his hurt after the game, and it was easy to understand why. :Liverpool were the architects of their own downfall with a catalogue of errors. Manager Jurgen Klopp blamed mistakes for all five Madrid goals…and said all five could have been avoided.
But the defender explained that for all the frustration at those mistakes, players are only human - and they have to learn from them, not be beaten down by them. “We're not robots,” he said wearily.
“It is pretty clear to see [we made] mistakes that we shouldn't make, but the only thing we can do is learn from it and focus on the next one - and don't be in panic. Obviously we are all disappointed we lost, that is how we should be.”
Van Dijk also dismissed the idea that mentally, Liverpool have been damaged by the cruel end to last season, where they had the Premier League title snatched from them in the final seconds of the campaign, and then lost so painfully amid horrific scenes at the Champions League final.
Asked if it was a football thing or a mental thing, he replied: “A football thing. You play football also with your head but it is a football thing. You make mistakes and they punish you. That's the only thing I can say, you know, losing is never good.”
