Van Dijk, Suspended Following His Red Card In The Netherlands Nations League Match, Is Returning To Liverpool To Recuperate

Suspended Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has decided not to join the squad for Monday’s Nations League matchup in Germany as he has chosen to prioritize additional rest. 

This strategic decision comes in light of van Dijk’s upcoming demanding schedule with Liverpool, as confirmed by the Dutch Football Association on Saturday. 

Opting for a more extensive period of rest will allow van Dijk to recharge and be fully prepared for the upcoming busy stretch of games with his club team.

Van Dijk was sent off in the 1-1 draw away to Hungary

Van Dijk, the player who received a red card during the match against Hungary leading to his suspension for the next Nations League game, expressed his unwavering commitment by stating that he would continue to be present with the team, offering his support to his fellow players despite not being able to participate on the field due to the ban. 

His dedication to standing by his team, even in times of adversity, reflects his strong bond and loyalty towards the squad.

He said “I’ll just travel with the team, of course, At least, that’s natural for me. I just played 80 minutes tonight, so I will first have to recover and I just want to be with the team as captain.”

Van Dijk later changed his mind

Van Dijk, though, later had second thoughts and announced on Saturday that he was returning to Liverpool, which over the next three weeks will play Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, and Brighton & Hove Albion twice.

“I would have liked to continue supporting the team, but I decided that I would like to go home. There has been a lot of talk about all the matches we have to play, all those trips. It is a good time to get some rest,” he stated

Van Dijk, the esteemed Netherlands captain, made history by being the first to receive a red card in a full international match. 

As a result, he unfortunately missed out on his first international game since June 2022, despite having accumulated an impressive 77 caps. 

Notably, the KNVB has decided against calling up a replacement to join the squad, which had already made its way from Budapest to Munich this past Saturday, solidifying their decision.

Follow Wat-Not on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram