Van Dijk: Today we exposed areas that need improvement, which will help newcomers show their strength

July 26th Liverpool lost to AC Milan 2-4 in a friendly match. After the game, Reds captain Van Dijk talked about topics such as the defeat, the integration of new players, and the trip to Hong Kong, China.

What positive things did you gain in this game?

"Obviously, no one wants to lose a game, which is not a positive factor in itself. But it is amazing to see so many fans cheering us up and the hard training we do every day, which is also the meaning of the preseason. However, as the head coach said, today's game exposed what we need to improve in some aspects, and we will do it.

"There are still many positive factors, and I think we have had a lot of outstanding performance in the first half of the game in the ball possession and created some very good opportunities. As you mentioned, Ngumoha's performance was impressive. We must continue to make progress and continue to take the next step to make our physical condition better. We have two or three games to prepare before the Community Shield, and the team has to go all out, and like I mentioned last week, we have to do that. ”

How do you help new players integrate into the team?

"Yes, I have put a lot of energy into this. It is very important for any newcomer to feel welcome at a club like Liverpool and be able to quickly show their strength. When I joined this club, the team already had a really great environment so I could show my abilities right away.

"I think this is what everyone hopes for, and from what I'm seeing so far, everything goes smoothly. Of course, it takes some time to adapt, which is normal. Today you can also see that they all show their talents, and I think they have more potential to discover in the future.

"I can also feel that not only myself, but many old team members are taking important responsibilities in this regard. But it all depends on the newcomers themselves: they have to prove their level and we will always support them because we are a team, and that's how we welcome the new season. ”

Talk about this trip to Hong Kong in China?

"It was a great experience for us because we had the opportunity to learn about different cultures and see many things we had never seen before. This is my first time in Hong Kong, China, and everything is very positive. We went to Mong Kok a few days ago and it felt good - although it wasn't long, because we had a lot of followers! But overall the experience is pretty good.

"But I don't think it's ideal about the lawn situation. Today's lawn preparations have been done as well as possible, but there is room for improvement. And the stadium is still good, the air conditioning system has helped a lot! During the preseason we all wanted to stay in shape and training in hot climates will definitely help.

"Overall, in addition to the results of the game tonight, I think we had a very good time. I really enjoyed this trip to Hong Kong in China and I hope I can come back in the future. ”