Virgil van Dijk issues rallying cry after Liverpool's UEFA Europa League exit to Atalanta - 'That last push'
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Published 18/04/2024 at 22:23 GMT
Virgil van Dijk is eager to move on as quickly as possible following the club's UEFA Europa League quarter-final exit at the hands of Atalanta. Mohamed Salah's penalty gave The Reds an ideal start in Bergamo, but the Serie A side contained Jurgen Klopp's team with relative ease to progress into the semi-finals. Liverpool's focus is now on their Premier League clash against Fulham on Sunday.
BERGAMO, ITALY - APRIL 18: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool Fc looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final second leg match between Atalanta and Liverpool FC at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on April 18, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo
Image credit: Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk issued a rallying cry after Liverpool’s UEFA Europa League quarter-final exit at the hands of Atalanta on Thursday night, as The Reds turn their attention back to the Premier League title race.
Jurgen Klopp’s side won the second leg 1-0 in Bergamo, but a chastening 3-0 first-leg defeat at Anfield proved costly and ended the club’s hopes of glory in Europe’s secondary cup competition.
“The damage was done last week,” the Liverpool captain told TNT Sports. “We were very poor, they were having a perfect game and they deserve to go through. We made it far too difficult for ourselves with the result last week.
“Obviously we won tonight, but it doesn't feel like it. We have to very quickly turn this around.
“We will need to recover and travel to London on Saturday [ahead of the match against Fulham on Sunday].
“We need everyone for that last push as well. And that's the feeling that I'm getting already now.”
The Dutchman believes there are still many reasons to be optimistic despite the 3-1 aggregate defeat, and is urging his team-mates to overcome the adversity they have faced in recent weeks.
“There are so many things that were positive today," he said. "But you're out of the competition and that’s a bad feeling. And what we have to do is get back up.
“We are going through difficult moments, and we have done it before as well. The key is to show maturity, togetherness and professionalism in order to be ready for Sunday.”
Liverpool’s sole focus now will be on the Premier League, as they look to close the two-point gap between themselves and leaders Manchester City, starting with Sunday’s trip to Craven Cottage.
Van Dijk said: “Everyone has that responsibility to make sure they're ready for it; physically and mentally. And that's the aim now.
“Everyone feels disappointed; I feel disappointed. But we do not have a lot of time to be disappointed.
“Hopefully our fans will be there for us again. We need them [the fans] more than ever for the last six games of the season where anything is still possible.”
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