00:00If you could raise your hands if you'd like to ask a question so we can get the mic to you before you ask the question please.
00:13Virgil, I just wanted to check something with you first because obviously we saw you after the game on Burnley speaking to the under 13s.
00:19Have you been able to sort getting them here on Wednesday or for any of the games given that you're offering your congratulations to winning your tournament at the weekend?
00:28Yeah, they're coming tomorrow. So I'm really pleased for them and hopefully we can give them a show as well.
00:35Have you gone on the pitch or anything like that?
00:37Well I don't know if you can tell that already in the media. I may be surprised for them as well but now you've ruined it already so hopefully that's not the case.
00:46Well yeah, that will be nice.
00:49Can I first of all as well ask about Alexander Isak, what kind of an impression has he made on you guys in his first few sessions with you?
00:57Very good. Very eager. Obviously the quality has been showing already since I think the first session I was still an international from what I've heard and seen.
01:10So yeah, only positive and off the pitch as well. We have conversations. I spoke to him during the international break when everything was sorted.
01:19For him obviously it's about getting as fit as possible, as quickly as possible, get to understand each one of us as quickly as possible,
01:31how we train, how we press, how we set pieces. So it's been a good week for him and let's see tomorrow.
01:43With the addition of another world-class striker like that, what difference does it make to the group?
01:48Also, are you able to assess at this stage just how well equipped you guys are as a squad given the change in personnel to challenge on all four fronts as you did last season and even go further than last season?
01:59Well, it's not really an addition, it's a replacement because obviously we got players that with a lot of quality left us.
02:08So we had to obviously replace these players that were so important for us and we had successes with.
02:14So obviously it comes with the price tag and the price tag we have no control over.
02:20So I totally understand from the outside world there will always be talks about that and that creates sort of pressure.
02:28But it's down to him and obviously with us that, you know, we don't speak about those type of things.
02:33We want to perform. We want to show that we have the quality to play on the highest level, to play for Liverpool, to play Champions League football.
02:39Hopefully for him to score a lot of goals. And that's it. Just work hard, enjoy being the number nine for Liverpool and be important for the group.
02:50And with the goals, assist, link up play, help others. And that's the only thing you have influence on.
02:57And as a group, how well equipped to go further on all four fronts?
03:00Well, hopefully we are. We have to stay fit, that's the main thing.
03:03I think last year it shows that when you don't have many injuries, then, you know,
03:08a lot of players can, you know, you can help, you can rotate, you can change the game in certain ways.
03:14And that's the aim again this season, find consistency, find, you know, your best form.
03:20And it's far too easy to say than to actually do it.
03:25But that's the responsibility that we all have as players in order to be at our best.
03:30Finally for me, Virgil, can you give us an idea what it's like to face a Diego Simeone team?
03:35Because you've done it a few times.
03:37Yeah. Unfortunately, the last time we did it here, we lost.
03:40And it was a painful one at the time as well.
03:44Obviously, we got knocked out.
03:46But it's, you know, it's a team that works so hard.
03:50It's a world-class manager.
03:53You know, it says a lot that he's been at that club for such a long time.
03:56And a lot of respect for that.
03:58They have world-class players.
04:00The world-class goalie.
04:02I can go on and on.
04:03And they are just a very difficult team to beat.
04:06And they will never give up.
04:09That's the mentality they have.
04:10And they maybe didn't have the best start that they would love to in terms of in the league.
04:16But I know that this is their start of that campaign as well.
04:19And they would love to impress as quickly as possible as well.
04:22So we have to be ready.
04:23And we had a good session today.
04:25And now it's time to prepare in your own way at home and be ready for tomorrow.
04:31Hi, Virgil.
04:35Talking about Alexander Isak, you've played against him.
04:38What kind of player is he to play against?
04:41What sets him out from the rest, really?
04:44Well, obviously, he's a clinical finisher.
04:47I think if you look at his finishing skills, you know, heading left, right, top corners.
04:55He's the complete striker at the moment.
04:58And the same, you can say, from Hugo.
05:00You know, I think, obviously, they may be a little bit different, but not as much.
05:06They have both so much quality.
05:09They are very comfortable on the ball, so they can link up play.
05:12They have pace.
05:14And that's basically what's been asked nowadays, I think, from the modern-day striker.
05:19And it's both of a handful.
05:23And that's obviously good that they're on my side now.
05:26So, hopefully, they can show that, obviously, in the next games and the whole year, definitely for the opponents.
05:33And as a captain, how excited have you been with all the players that have come in this summer?
05:37And how long does it take to gel when you have got game after game after game?
05:41You won't have as much training time now?
05:43Well, hopefully as quickly as possible.
05:45And I'm definitely delighted with all the players, the quality that we have brought in.
05:50But it takes time. It's absolutely normal.
05:53They're in a good place.
05:55I think to be here with us as a team, it's a great place to be.
06:00The club is in a great place.
06:02And it gives them the opportunity to express themselves as quickly as possible.
06:09And that's a good thing.
06:11Obviously, when I joined the club as well, you want to feel welcomed as quickly as possible
06:16so you can express yourself in the best way possible.
06:19On the pitch especially because that's what counts, of course.
06:22But off the pitch as well, and I think that's definitely been happening.
06:27Hi Wilj, I'm Artur Kovács, RTL Hungary.
06:31So you play in defence between two Hungarian players.
06:34And I would like to ask you what about your connections
06:38and what do you think about Dominik Soboslai and Milos Kerkhez?
06:43Well, yeah, a lot of energy, a lot of quality.
06:48I think Milos obviously is a fantastic, aggressive, full-of-energy player
06:54that obviously is learning also the way how we play
06:59and the intensity of playing for Liverpool.
07:04Also dealing with it, how it is on and off the pitch, you know.
07:07It's not an easy thing to deal with, but he is going to be absolutely fine.
07:12In terms of Dom, I think he had a great start of the season so far.
07:16Obviously playing on a position that is not maybe his favourite one,
07:22but he did it with, you know, amazing and on a world-class level in MAPE.
07:28Obviously it's a great option to have for the rest of the season.
07:32So, yeah, I'm very delighted for both of them.
07:36They're learning and they're getting better each and every day.
07:40I think that's just great to see.
07:42Thank you very much.
07:48Hi, Virgil.
07:50You mentioned the Atletico Madrid game a few years ago
07:53and then you were actually the defending champions in the Champions League.
07:56There's only a few of you left from that team.
07:59Do you feel that you topped the league table last year
08:04but then got knocked down the last 16?
08:06How do you see your chances of going further this year?
08:09And with you signing your new contract,
08:12was part of that thinking you might be able to win another Champions League here?
08:16Obviously, when I sign my deal, I will hope to win everything that I'm going to participate in.
08:24But it doesn't work like that, unfortunately, because you face so many teams.
08:29So many great teams, by the way, sorry.
08:31But yeah, going to the start of this campaign, I'm confident.
08:36I'm confident that we can show Europe that we are a fantastic team.
08:41But you have to work for it.
08:43It's all about the work that you put in, obviously on the pitch,
08:46but off the pitch as well in order to be at your best.
08:49And tomorrow is a great start.
08:52We have high hopes, but tomorrow I can, you know,
08:56show again how difficult it is to be up there.
09:00And we just have to take it game by game like we always do.
09:03Also in the league, we don't get ahead of ourselves.
09:07That's the main thing that sticks to me.
09:11Hello.
09:12Is it possible to ask in Spanish?
09:13Hello, Virgil.
09:14How are you?
09:15Tony Fabra from El Desmarque.
09:16I want to ask you what have you thought this morning,
09:18when you saw the Atletico Madrid convocation in which there are a few important players
09:25and there are not Julian Alvarez.
09:28Are you more relaxed, as a central player,
09:30to not have to face Julian?
09:33Alvarez is a fantastic player, first and foremost.
09:41So that will be obviously a miss.
09:45But I still think that Atletico Madrid is a very dangerous team
09:50with great players, with a fantastic manager.
09:53We have to be at our best tomorrow.
09:58And it's not about me being relaxed.
10:00I'm always ready to, you know, for anything and for tomorrow as well.
10:06I'll be relaxed tonight when I'm doing my normal stuff in order to be ready for tomorrow.
10:10But tomorrow when I wake up and after pre-match, I'll be more than ready to rock and roll.
10:19Last question, please.
10:20Hi, Virgil.
10:21Atletico Madrid are one of the few teams in Europe who play with two strikers.
10:25In fact, I don't think there's any team in the Premier League who play with two strikers anymore.
10:29What are the unique challenges of playing against two?
10:32And how much are you looking forward to it?
10:35Well, at times teams are playing with two strikers.
10:39Maybe not directly, but I've mentioned it many times.
10:45Obviously, the way we defend is always from the front.
10:50So it's never...
10:52Obviously, it can be 1v1 at times, but, you know, it's well-organized.
10:58And, yeah, listen, I think it's just you have to deal with it in the situation.
11:05Whether it's a long ball, you have to challenge headers or just ground duels
11:12or reading the game early enough.
11:15It's just part of being a central defender.
11:19And no matter what you're going to face, you have to make sure you're at your best
11:23together with your partner and your number six and the back four, basically.
11:27But that's just always a challenge.
11:30And it's nice that in the Champions League sometimes you face different type of strikers,
11:36different type of ways that teams are playing against you.
11:40But that's nice because you have to adapt at times as well.
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