Virgil van Dijk has reacted to Liverpool’s 2–0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final, describing the upcoming return leg at Anfield as the “only positive” following a disappointing night in Paris.
His post-match comments were shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account. Van Dijk expressed his unhappiness, emphasizing that they could have done better.
Softfootball understands that Liverpool struggled to capitalize on key moments during the match, with Van Dijk admitting the team had clear opportunities but failed to convert them. PSG, however, made their chances count, with goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia giving the French side a strong advantage heading into the second leg on April 14.
Romano posted:
Van Dijk on the defeat: “The only positive thing is we play them again next week”. “We had a few small moments on the break, we could have done better. I’m not happy obviously”.
The defeat compounds a difficult period for Liverpool, coming just days after their heavy 4–0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Following that result, Van Dijk openly admitted that the season has taken a significant mental toll on the squad, stressing that there is now no room for excuses as they approach a decisive phase of the campaign.
Despite the setbacks, the Liverpool captain remains focused on the opportunity ahead. He emphasized the importance of Anfield, highlighting the fans as the club’s backbone and a crucial factor in creating a special European atmosphere capable of inspiring a comeback.
In other comments shared by Romano, Van Dijk acknowledged the quality of PSG, urging his teammates to respect their opponents while believing in their own ability to respond.
Van Dijk: We shouldn’t forget we play against the European champions. Hopefully our fans can play a big part with that as well. I’ve been to many special games at Anfield and very lucky and privileged. The fans are the backbone of the club.
With Liverpool needing a strong performance at home, the second leg promises to be a high-stakes encounter where resilience, efficiency, and the Anfield crowd could play defining roles.
