Van Dijk: Liverpool are one big family

Virgil Van Dijk has said the closeness of the Liverpool squad is what makes them such a special group to be a part of.

The imperious Dutch central defender gave a insight into the inner sanctum of the Champions League winners telling The Mirror that it is just not the current players that play a part.

“The legends of the great days – such as Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush – travel with us during European weeks.

“Dalglish even sends me texts on my phone and we will have a chat at times.

“When I go to see my family after a match, I go by the boardroom and it is always full of former top players.

“But we can also have a laugh and a joke about each other."

Van Dijk has been around the game long enough to make judgements on what makes a cohesive unit.

He is well aware that cliques can develop to the detriment of the side, but at Liverpool, it is clear that he feels at home.

“At almost every club, you find that there are lots of different little groups in a squad.”

“ In my opinion, Liverpool are one big family – and that is why this club suits me so much.

“James Milner says the same thing – and he has played at big clubs like Man City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

“ That’s why this club is great for me. The people are all humble.

It may come as a surprise, but Van Dijk says that Sadio Mane is the joker of the squad while Andy Robertson always has plenty to say for himself.

Virgil is naturally very close to his countryman in Gini Wijnaldum.

He recalled a story about the midfielder before the Champions League final.

“When we were about to go on to the pitch for the biggest game of the year in Madrid, suddenly it was Gini who said, ‘Hang on, boys, let’s all get together here.

“We formed a tight circle right there in the dressing room and Gini started to talk.

“He said all the right things, he really went for it and I could feel I was getting a lump in my throat.

“It was so special what he said – and it was so perfect.

“Gini is such a warm person.”

While Van Dijk certainly does not share the same relationship with Leo Messi, he feels he has earned the respect of the Barcelona legend after speaking with him at the Ballon D’ Or ceremony.

“I spoke to Messi during the evening. 

“It was not the longest conversation because he doesn’t speak a lot of English.

"But it was still enough to make me realise that the respect between us now also runs the other way.”