Virgil van Dijk has admitted that he was as surprised as anyone to see Liverpool sack Arne Slot last Saturday.
Reds fans had already on the whole accepted that Slot would be staying into next season, and it seems that many of the players felt the same way.
There had been suggestions that the Liverpool squad had grown frustrated with Slot and his methods, and that that may have played a part in his dismissal. But as Van Dijk confirmed after the Netherlands were beaten 1-0 by Algeria on Wednesday, he, as captain, was not consulted.
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Van Dijk had no part to play in Slot’s dismissal
If the Liverpool squad were to have played a part in Slot being axed, it would likely have come through discussions with Van Dijk.
But while speaking to Dutch outlet NOS on Wednesday, the 34-year-old said that the first he knew of the decision was when he saw the news had been leaked online.
“I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon and it had already leaked,” he said.
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“After that, of course, I had conversations. But the decision had already been made earlier. It is not like they are asking me how or what.”
Van Dijk also revealed that he had since spoken to both Slot and assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff, and reiterated his gratitude at their two-year partnership which included the lifting of a Premier League trophy.
“I have spoken with Arne and with Sipke,” he said. “That is the most important thing for me. I am very grateful to them. For everything they have meant, not only to me but also to the club.
“I wish them nothing but success.”
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