Following Liverpool's 3-0 win over Manchester United on their visit to Old Trafford, Reds captain Virgil van Dyk spoke to Sky Sports to share his joy at the win and his outlook for the season ahead, while paying a fond tribute to former Ivory Coast defender Kolo Mouani Bamba, who passed away recently.
Van Dyke began by praising the team's performance: "This is a proud moment for the whole team. What I'm most pleased with is the way we played from the first minute of the game to the last. We were eager to enjoy the game on the field, and the cornerstone of this was our tireless efforts. We completely dominated the game and deserved to pick up more goals. 3-0 is a significant improvement on last year's scoreline against Manchester United and proves that we are heading in the right direction."
Speaking about the game strategy and team spirit, Van Dyk said: "We stayed focused and executed a very effective game plan. We had studied the characteristics of Manchester United's new striker Joshua Zilkzer, who is good at receiving underneath passes and controlling the ball, but we managed to neutralize their threats through quick reactions and tacit cooperation. We showed good patience and execution, which was the key to winning the game."
Van Dyk is confident about the team's future: "Jürgen Klopp said before his departure that the new manager would take over a strong team. Despite the managerial change, we still have a solid squad of players. We are not just content to compete, but are eager to achieve great things this season. We have good stability and competitiveness against strong opponents like Manchester City and Arsenal. The next fixtures, one game every three days, will be a test of our stamina and will, but I believe we can enjoy the journey and create more glory."
In addition, Van Dyke also spoke about his feelings of mourning the death of his former teammate Bamba: "When I learned of Bamba's passing, my heart was very heavy. I used to play with him and interact with him, and he was a very good person. His passing is deeply saddening because he was so young. I sincerely hope that his family will have all the support and strength they need to get through this difficult time. At the same time, I hope that the Premier League will somehow show their condolences and respect for Bamba after the international day, as he deserves to be remembered by all."
