Van Dijk explains why he decided to stay with the Netherlands

Just a month ago, Virgil van Dijk was raising doubts about his future with the Netherlands national team. Today, those doubts are gone. Liverpool's captain admitted it was "a huge decision" to keep wearing the orange shirt, but he was also clear about what finally convinced him: a conversation with new head coach Xavi Hernandez.

The defender, who has racked up 96 caps for the Dutch national team, had cast doubt on his future after Ronald Koeman's departure. Koeman stepped down in June following the Netherlands' round of 16 elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Morocco. That vacancy on the bench left more than just the sporting project up in the air, it also left question marks over how several of the team's senior figures would fit into the new era.

With Xavi's arrival, the former Barcelona coach, things changed quickly. Van Dijk said he didn't need a particularly long conversation to feel convinced. The trust was there from the very first moment.

"Obviously it was a huge decision. I needed to feel the trust and the combination of respect and enjoyment, everything I was looking for. That was there from the first second, so the conversation didn't need to be very long. But it was really good, so I'm really looking forward to joining up for the four important games. Let's make the next two years, at least, an incredible time."Virgil van Dijk

That new chapter kicks off this Thursday, when the Netherlands open their UEFA Nations League campaign against Jurgen Klopp's Germany, a matchup with its own extra edge given that Klopp is Van Dijk's former manager and will be on the opposing bench.

A solid send-off before the break

Before turning his attention to international duty, Van Dijk had his farewell with Liverpool ahead of the international break, and it came with a win: 1-0 over AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday. The stat that's got Anfield even more excited is this one: the Reds posted their third consecutive clean sheet, something they hadn't managed since the first three games of Arne Slot's tenure at the start of the 2024-25 season.

For Van Dijk, that kind of run is never down to the defense alone.

"Clean sheets are always a good sign. Everyone plays their part. I know how it sometimes goes, where maybe only the defenders or the goalkeeper get the credit, but it's down to everyone. The attackers and midfielders put in the hard work, and it's a great foundation to build on."Virgil van Dijk

The defender also spoke about his partnership with the club's summer signing, Jeremy Jacquet, who is just 21. Van Dijk was complimentary but also urged patience: "He's had an excellent start, but it's still only September. I want him to keep working and learning. I'm sure he will," he said, before adding that he knows how the conversation changes when a young player doesn't perform at the expected level. "It's still a work in progress. There are still things we can improve, but you learn by playing games," he said, wrapping up his thoughts on his new defensive partner's adaptation.