Van Dijk saw his 2020-21 campaign cut short after being left with a cruciate ligament knee injury following a late tackle from Jordan Pickford in a 2-2 Merseyside derby against Everton on October 17.
Virgil will be available for Euro 2020
According to Frank de Boer, Virgil van Dijk has to be the one to decide whether he will play at Euro 2020, who still hopes the Liverpool defender can make his final Netherlands squad. Van Dijk saw his 2020-21 campaign cut short after being left with a cruciate ligament knee injury following a late tackle from Jordan Pickford in a 2-2 Merseyside derby against Everton on October 17. The Dutch international underwent successful surgery after the game before embarking on an extensive rehab program. While it is not yet known when he will be able to return, De Boer is optimistic that he will be available for the European Championship. “I think Virgil has to decide; it is his career,” the Netherlands coach told reporters.
The Reds are in doubt about Van Dijk’s fitness
“I can imagine he’s in a dilemma. Can it mean something to Oranje? Hopefully, he has made giant steps in his rehabilitation.” Klopp has insisted that he wants Virgil Van Dijk to participate in the Euro 2020 but is doubtful about his chances, given the fact that he will have very little time to build any game fitness. “Virgil’s knee. I don’t want to hold him back, but you can’t force it the same way,” Klopp said earlier this month. “If you want to play in a competition, you have to prepare earlier, proper football training – and not a week before, but many weeks before.”
“You cannot, after 10 or 11 months out train for a week and then play football; it is simply impossible. It shouldn’t be possible. Nobody is holding him back, and I can promise all the people in Holland that. But you cannot force it, and we will not.”
Virgil will no doubt be chomping at the bit to return on the field asap, but the Reds are unlikely to risk putting in so much time and effort to make sure his recovery runs smoothly.