Following Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals this weekend, Reds’ captain Virgil van Dijk had a word with journalists in the mixed zone at Wembley.
Speaking to TNT Sports from Brazil, the defender answered several questions, and one of them was about Mohamed Salah, who wasn’t directly involved in any of the Anfield side’s three goals.
The question was if the winger is tired from the difficult matches he had with Egypt, or maybe emotionally worn out following the national team’s failure to win the Africa Cup of Nations and then failing to get qualification for the World Cup.
Van Dijk came up to defend his Liverpool teammate, pointing out that despite the ‘tough’ time he’s been having, he’ll soon be back to his best form.
“It’s so easy to make judgements about him. In my opinion, he’s so important for us, he’ll always be. His goals will come, I’m not worried about any of that,” Van Dijk told TNT Sports.
“He’s creating dangerous moments. Last game, the City game, he had an amazing assist, very important, of course. So obviously it’s been a tough two months. But we’re all human beings, and he’s such a fantastic professional with amazing qualities that he’ll be bouncing back as soon as possible. I’m not worried at all.”
Last week, ESPN Brasil also featured an interview with Mohamed Salah. On that occasion, the player admitted it’s been ‘hard to concentrate’ on this final stretch of the season with Liverpool, while so much is going on around him.
