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Van Dijk Desperate to Give Klopp Fitting Finale at Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk (left) is hoping to give Jurgen Klopp (right) the perfect send off as Liverpool manager - AFP
Virgil van Dijk (left) is hoping to give Jurgen Klopp (right) the perfect send off as Liverpool manager - AFP
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Van Dijk Desperate to Give Klopp Fitting Finale at Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk (left) is hoping to give Jurgen Klopp (right) the perfect send off as Liverpool manager - AFP
Virgil van Dijk (left) is hoping to give Jurgen Klopp (right) the perfect send off as Liverpool manager - AFP

Virgil van Dijk said the news of Jurgen Klopp's departure from Liverpool at the end of the season was "hard to take", but the Reds' captain is hoping to send his manager out on a high.

Liverpool are five points clear at the top of the Premier League and in the running for three more trophies in the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League.

Klopp announced his shock decision to step down on Friday, explaining that he no longer has the energy to keep going after nearly nine years in charge at Anfield.

"It's a hard one to take, because the manager means so much for us, to me, to the club, to the whole Premier League I think," said Van Dijk, who was brought to Liverpool by Klopp for a then world record £75 million fee for a defender in 2018.

"But he made the decision for him and his family. It was always going to be a tough one and it was definitely the case."

Liverpool host Norwich in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday at what is sure to be an emotionally-charged Anfield in the first match since the news broke, AFP reported.

Klopp's men this week also reached the League Cup final, where they will face Chelsea next month, and are the favorites for the Europa League having already qualified for the last 16.

"We have a lot of targets still to achieve this year and why not finish the season on a high and together with celebrations for the boss as well?" Van Dijk said.

"Let's make the rest of the season a special one so he can have the farewell that he definitely deserves."

Liverpool are keen to avoid the fate suffered by Manchester United in 2001/02 when the Red Devils struggled after Alex Ferguson announced his intention to retire, only for the Scot to later change his mind and stay on at Old Trafford for another decade.

Klopp insisted there will be no change of heart on his decision and Van Dijk believes it could give his players extra motivation in what remains of the campaign

"It will maybe even give you an extra boost to do that extra (bit) or maybe enjoy it a little bit even more together," added the Dutchman.

"And make the last part of the season, the last bit of the manager's time at the club, the best time he's ever had. That's what we strive for and that's why it's business as usual."

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Sinner Gets Three-month Ban in Settlement of Doping Case

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo
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Sinner Gets Three-month Ban in Settlement of Doping Case

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo

Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency over his two positive doping tests, the organization said Saturday.

WADA, which was seeking to ban Sinner from the sport for at least one year, had challenged a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what the ITIA judged was accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid last March.

Sinner’s explanation — that trace amounts of Clostebol in his doping sample was due to a massage from a trainer who used the substance after cutting his own finger — had been accepted, The Associated Press reported.
The 23-year-old Italian, who won the Australian Open in January, will be eligible to compete in the next Grand Slam. The French Open begins May 25.
"This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year,” Sinner said in a statement. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a 3-month sanction.”
WADA had originally appealed the ITIA's ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. It has formally withdrawn the appeal.
“WADA accepts the athlete’s explanation for the cause of the violation as outlined in the first instance decision. WADA accepts that Mr. Sinner did not intend to cheat, and that his exposure to Clostebol did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit and took place without his knowledge as the result of negligence of members of his entourage,” it said in Saturday's announcement.
“However,” the WADA statement continued, “under the code and by virtue of CAS precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence. Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome. As previously stated, WADA did not seek a disqualification of any results, save that which was previously imposed by the tribunal of first instance.”
WADA added that the International Tennis Federation and ITIA, “both co-respondents to WADA’s CAS appeal, neither of which appealed the first-instance decision, both accepted the case resolution agreement. ”
The suspension is from Feb. 9 to May 4.
Sinner could return at his home tournament, the Italian Open in Rome, which starts May 7.
Sinner’s London-based lawyer, Jamie Singer commented: “I am delighted that Jannik can finally put this harrowing experience behind him. WADA has confirmed the facts determined by the Independent Tribunal. It is clear that Jannik had no intent, no knowledge, and gained no competitive advantage. Regrettably, errors made by members of his team led to this situation.”
On Friday, Sinner posted a video on Instagram of himself training in Doha at the Qatar Open, which starts next week.