Van Dijk says Xavi convinced him to continue Netherlands career

Virgil van Dijk has committed to continue with the Netherlands after saying a brief meeting with new head coach Xavi ended doubts over his international future.

Key takeaways

• Van Dijk considered stepping away after the Netherlands’ World Cup exit.
• The 33-year-old said Xavi convinced him to remain within seconds of their meeting.
• He has 96 Netherlands caps and is closing in on the 100-game mark.
• The Liverpool defender rejected claims that he influenced tactical decisions under Ronald Koeman.
• Morocco eliminated the Oranje on penalties in the World Cup round of 16.

New coach restores Van Dijk’s confidence

Van Dijk took time with his family after a difficult tournament, with public criticism leaving him uncertain about his place in the next Dutch cycle. He said rest, conversations with loved ones and a direct discussion with Xavi were needed before making a decision.

“I needed a holiday with my family, then an important conversation with the national coach,” Van Dijk said. “After ten seconds, I knew I would carry on.”

The defender said the decisive issue was not his physical condition or a discussion over systems. Instead, Xavi reminded him of his standing in the group and the value he brings to the side.

“He told me that I am Virgil van Dijk,” he said. “It is about trust, appreciation and knowing how important you are to the team. There was never any question physically, but you also want to feel valued and enjoy it. I did not lack that internally, but externally I often did.”

Van Dijk hits back after World Cup criticism

The Netherlands were knocked out by Morocco after a round-of-16 penalty shootout, and Van Dijk accepted that the team fell short. But he strongly denied being responsible for the tactical approach that followed the defeat.

“We failed at the World Cup. Those are the facts,” he said. “But that was not because of me. I have never been the person making those choices. It was a poor match, although we were close to getting through. Had we done that, nobody would have complained. Instead, we went out far too soon and everything was thrown at us.”

Van Dijk was especially frustrated by suggestions that he and former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman had damaged Dutch football by using a five-man defensive setup.

He said false narratives had been spread to worsen his image, adding that it was absurd to suggest he was to blame for playing with five at the back or that he and Koeman had “destroyed” Dutch football.

Reaching 100 caps was not the reason for his decision, Van Dijk insisted, although he acknowledged the significance of joining a small group of Dutch players to achieve the landmark. His focus, he said, was first on recovering from the World Cup, speaking to those close to him and meeting the new coach.