Van Dijk: Could have risked playing in last year's Euro 2008, but a full recovery helped Liverpool more important

Last summer, Van Dijk, who had just recovered from a serious injury, had the opportunity to represent the Dutch national team in the first competition of his life, but he finally chose to give up.

In an interview with The Mirror, Van Dijk said: "I have been following the European Championship for a long time, and I am also a person who wants to know everything. So before that, I talked to the surgeon, the physiotherapist and some of the players about the possibility of playing in the European Championship. In the process of talking to some players, I want to know how they are doing in the injury recovery phase, when they will feel that there is no problem with the knee at all, and how they cope with the setbacks in the recovery process. ”

"There's a lot of pressure from the outside world, so you put a lot of pressure on yourself. At some point, I know that everyone's recovery process is different and you can't decide when you come back. One day I was sitting around the table with the chief surgeon and my wife, and from that moment on I decided to get ready for Liverpool's new season. ”

"Any small setback can keep me away from the European Championship, so it's my best decision. I also thought about playing in the European Championship with the Netherlands as a player in the squad, but I didn't think it was appropriate. Further rehabilitation and a focus on a comeback at Liverpool are therefore even more important. ”

"When you show up on the pitch, everyone thinks you've recovered to 100 per cent and I understand that. In the eyes of the outside world, whether you are injured or suffered a year-long serious injury, you should perform the best as long as you play. ”

"At Liverpool, I gave everything I could and tried to do my best in every game. However, I am also an ordinary person, and I can also make mistakes. Football is very important in my life, but there is more important than football, and that is family. As long as there are no problems with my family, then I can cope with everything in my life. ”

"Of course, I'm looking forward to staying healthy and playing in my first World Cup. But, no matter what, I'll play the way I think I do. ”

(Two monsters)