Van Dijk: I did ask for good rest, the past year was very demanding

After a 3-2 defeat to Monaco in a pre-season friendly, Liverpool captain Van Dijk spoke to reporters in the mixed zone, stating that he indeed asked for a good rest because the past year had been very draining.

As a central figure during a period of rapid change in Liverpool's central defense, the importance of team captain Virgil Van Dijk is perhaps more prominent than ever.

The captain, who just turned 35 last month, is now in the final year of the two-year contract extension he signed in April 2025.

Normally, such a context often means a player is gradually heading towards a farewell, but Van Dijk remains the spiritual symbol of this team and is ready to show his value to Liverpool's third manager, Andoni Iraola.

With 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni and 21-year-old Jarell Quansah yet to make their Premier League debut for Liverpool, Joe Gomez once again plagued by injuries, and Ronald Araújo about to be confirmed on loan from Barcelona, Van Dijk's presence undoubtedly reassures new manager Iraola.

Even in the latter stages of his career, Van Dijk remains a top defensive player, a highly influential figure in the dressing room, and an important stabilizing force for the team during uncertain times.

However, the past 12 months have not been easy for the two-time Premier League winner.

No player in Europe's top five leagues had more playing time than Van Dijk last season. The Dutch international had accumulated 5841 minutes before the World Cup began, and then represented the Netherlands in the World Cup, playing every minute of their journey to the Round of 32.

After his World Cup campaign, this figure rose to 6141 minutes, with a total of 69 appearances for club and country, averaging 89 minutes per game.

For a player in the latter stages of his career, this is an incredible statistic, especially considering he suffered a serious ACL injury in October 2020. Such a heavy game load also led Van Dijk himself to actively request more rest than usual this summer.

Van Dijk said after his first pre-season appearance on Sunday: "I've trained for six, seven or eight days, so I was really hoping to get my legs back into the rhythm of the game, and I'm glad there were no issues in the end."

"Everything is going very well (working with Iraola). In the first week after his appointment was announced, we had a great conversation. For him, the most important thing is to know that whatever he needs, whatever he wants to know, or whatever he wants me to do for the team, I will always be there for him."

"Hopefully we can be successful this season, that's our goal."

"This is not to discredit Arne (Slot) and his team, we had a very good time together. Of course, last season's results were disappointing. This year we have a new manager, who has new ways of preparing."

"So we have to adapt to the new coaching staff and different training methods. But I really enjoyed working under Arne, and I believe I will also enjoy working under the new manager."

As he revealed in his post-match interview after the 3-2 defeat to Monaco on Sunday, Van Dijk personally requested to skip the club's pre-season tour in the United States. After a three-week holiday following the World Cup, the veteran believed that instead of enduring the jet lag from long-haul flights, staying at the club's AXA Training Centre for training would be more beneficial for regaining fitness during the most crucial preparation phase of the season.

He said: "I did ask for a good rest because I felt I needed it, not just physically, but mentally too."

"From the start of pre-season last year until I was knocked out of the World Cup, that was a very draining period. So I felt I needed a good rest. I probably rested about three days more than Gravenberch, Wirtz, and Isak."

"For me, the key was that I didn't want to go to America, because I didn't want to experience jet lag and then have to adjust again after returning."

"I felt that spending a few more days at the AXA Training Centre, completing physical tests before the team returned, and preparing to jump straight into training when the team came back, was the best way for me personally."

However, at 35 years old and with significant changes in the squad, especially in his central defensive position, Van Dijk's determination remains unshaken. The decorated defender firmly believes that he can still play a crucial role under Iraola, just as he did under Klopp and Slot.

In the past six years, Van Dijk has helped Liverpool win all major trophies.

Van Dijk said: "Yes, I'm ready to go again. Are you saying that I'm 35, so I can't do it?"

"Ultimately, you have to take care of yourself. You need to do these things. I wouldn't say it's luck, but you have to do your best."

"This is the minimum requirement for me, because I feel it's my responsibility to be ready for every game. We play every three days. Between games, whether at home or at the training ground, you have to do everything you can to be ready for the next match."

"I feel good. I'm also a late bloomer, so maybe... that's just how it is."

"I feel in good shape. I want to make all our fans around the world proud, no matter where we go. The way to do that is to win games and show what this shirt represents every time we wear it."

"This has always been the minimum requirement for me, so let's keep going."

As Iraola ushers in a new era, the Liverpool squad has also undergone significant changes. The departures of Konate, Robertson, and Salah, coupled with a round of personnel adjustments the team already experienced a year ago, show clear signs of a generational shift.

Van Dijk, who is about to begin his 10th season at Anfield, also acknowledges this.

He said: "There's no doubt, it does feel a bit like a transitional period."

"Everyone involved with Liverpool needs to make sure that we are building something that can be successful for many years to come."

"This season, we want to be successful, but there's still a lot of work to be done."

"We all know how difficult it is to compete in the Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup, and Champions League, so we need everyone to be at their best."

"We need to be consistent and win more games. Let's see what changes the transfer window brings in the coming weeks. Any high-quality signings that can strengthen the team will be welcome, so let's wait and see."

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