Virgil van Dijk has revealed what he discussed with Andoni Iraola during the first week following the announcement of Iraola's appointment as Liverpool manager, stating what the team needs this season.
On 10 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Virgil van Dijk, the Dutch defender, disclosed what he talked about with Spanish coach Andoni Iraola in the first week after Iraola was officially announced as the new manager of Premier League giants Liverpool, replacing former coach Jürgen Klopp who parted ways with the club, and outlined what is needed for the 2026-27 season.
Van Dijk said, "Everything went smoothly. We had very good discussions in the first week after he was announced as Liverpool's manager. I told him the important things he needed to know, and of course, those are the things I already shared with him. I will stand by him no matter what he needs from me. I am ready to do whatever it takes for the team or anything else. I am always ready to support him. Hopefully, we will succeed this season. That is what we want."
"With the previous coach (Jürgen Klopp) and his staff, we had great moments together. Of course, last year was disappointing. This year, we have a new manager and a new way of preparing. We all have to adapt because the training methods are different. I enjoyed working under Klopp, and I am confident I will enjoy working under this new manager (Andoni Iraola) as well."