Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is not confident that Virgil van Dijk will return before the end of the season.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
The centre-back suffered a bad knee injury back in October but has been battling to come back before the end of the season. Frank de Boer was also hopeful he would be back in time for the European Championships.
However, speaking on Tuesday, Jurgen Klopp has said it is very unlikely that the Netherlands captain will return before the end of the season.
He told reporters, “Whatever happens, I think we have space for Virgil on the Champions League list. I think he was on the Premier League list. Nobody told me I have to change something with that. If we have space in the Champions League list then Virgil will be on the list.
“In the moment, I don’t know where these things are coming from – nobody really, no doctor, nobody really told me there’s a chance for Virgil to play in this season again.
“I don’t want to say that’s absolutely impossible but it’s not likely. It’s not likely. We don’t have to discuss these things really.
“If we have space we would put them all on, even when all the medical people tell us there’s no chance. We put them on because we believe in miracles from time to time.
“But if there’s no place then we have to consider these kind of things and say, ‘The chance is not too big so we have to make the decision.’ But if they are on the list then it’s only because we hope for nearly a miracle. That’s it.”
If Klopp is right then it appears Van Dijk’s chances of leading his nation out at the European Championships are over with De Boer stating before that Van Dijk would have to be playing to get into his squad.
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
