Virgil van Dijk has explained why he deliberately took a few extra days away from Liverpool following an incredibly demanding year.
The Liverpool captain admitted that he needed the additional time off not only physically, but mentally as well, after what had been an exhausting period from the beginning of last season right through to the World Cup.
And given everything Van Dijk had been through, his decision makes perfect sense.
“I needed it physically and mentally”
Speaking to Paul Gorst, Van Dijk explained that he had specifically asked for a longer break because he felt it was necessary for his overall wellbeing.
> “I definitely asked for a good break because I felt like I needed it, not only physically but mentally as well.”
That is an important admission from Liverpool’s captain.
Footballers are often expected to simply return to training and immediately get back to work, but the demands placed on elite players can be enormous.
Van Dijk described the previous year as “very demanding”, stretching from the beginning of pre-season right through to the moment he was knocked out of the World Cup.
He therefore took around three extra days compared with Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Why he stayed in England
Interestingly, Van Dijk also explained why he didn’t travel to Liverpool’s pre-season camp in America.
He didn’t want to deal with jet lag and then have to go through the process of recovering from the long journey back to England.
Instead, he chose to spend some additional time at the AXA Training Centre.
That allowed him to complete his testing before the rest of the squad returned and prepare himself properly for the start of the new campaign.
For Van Dijk, it was about making sure he was ready to immediately get back to work when the team returned.
A sensible decision from the captain
I actually think this was a very sensible approach from Van Dijk.
At 35, he has to manage his body differently from a player in his early twenties.
Liverpool need their captain available for the biggest games of the season, not simply fit for the first week of pre-season.
Taking a few extra days to recover could ultimately help him maintain his fitness throughout the campaign.
And there is another important factor.
Mental freshness matters.
Van Dijk has been playing at the highest level for years, and the physical demands of football are only one part of the equation.
Giving himself time to properly switch off before beginning another demanding season could be just as important as any fitness session.
Van Dijk knows his body
The most encouraging part is that this wasn’t Van Dijk simply deciding to skip training.
He had a plan.
He completed his testing at the AXA, prepared himself before the squad returned and then was ready to get straight into work.
That suggests a player who understands exactly what his body needs at this stage of his career.
And Liverpool should welcome that.
The Reds are entering a new era under Andoni Iraola, and Van Dijk’s leadership could be absolutely crucial.
With younger defenders such as Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni developing around him, Liverpool need their captain to be fit, fresh and ready to lead.
The bigger picture
It is easy to look at a player returning a few days later than teammates and wonder why.
But Van Dijk’s explanation puts everything into perspective.
He had just come through an incredibly demanding year and a World Cup campaign.
He felt he needed a proper physical and mental reset.
So he took it.
And rather than seeing that as a negative, Liverpool supporters should probably see it as a positive.
A fresh Virgil van Dijk could be one of the most important things Liverpool have heading into the new season.
The captain knows what he needs to perform at his best.
Now the hope is that the extra recovery allows him to enjoy another outstanding season at the heart of Liverpool’s defence.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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