Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has issued a rallying cry to the rest of the squad, insisting they must step and deliver to ensure Jurgen Klopp gets his dream farewell.
The German stunned the footballing world on Friday when he confirmed he'd be walking away from the dugout at the end of the season.
Klopp has guided Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table so far this term, with the Reds five points clear of defending champions Manchester City.
And Van Dijk wants the squad to step up and ensure the 56-year-old leaves on a high note come the summer.
Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk has addressed Jurgen Klopp's decision to leave Anfield
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"I think how we always try to manage noise from the outside," he said.
"Of course this is massive, it's massive news in football. For us, it was also a very big day.
"But we have big targets this year and that's definitely stressed by the manager as well.
"For us and for me personally as well, I want to make sure the rest of the boys think like that too. I think that's the case as well.
"We all want to achieve so much and that mindset was already there since pre-season and that doesn't change.
"It will maybe even give you an extra boost to do that extra or maybe enjoy it a little bit even more together 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."
Van Dijk was signed by Klopp back in January 2018.
The Netherlands international arrived from Southampton and became the world's most expensive defender in the process.
Klopp and Van Dijk have won prestigious prizes such as the Premier League and Champions League while working together.
And the Reds skipper is grateful for everything his manager has done for him, while admitting the decision was 'hard' to take.
"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," he said.
"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."
The timing of Klopp's exit announcement has surprised many.
Yet the German insists he's healthy and that his departure is nothing to worry about.
"I am okay, I am healthy so as much as you can at my age, just a few bits and bobs, nothing anyone has to worry about," he said.
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Further explaining the timing, he added: “Of course, I would not have said anything to anybody until the end of the season and then say goodbye by but it is not possible.
“It is not possible in the world we are living in to keep things like this secret.
“There are so many things that are influenced by it, personal situations like my staff need to know early and the club needs to know.
“You can not plan anything without making it public and that means the club needs time.
"Over the years, my role was a dominant one, it was not intentional.
Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk has loved working under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield
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“I really don’t want that but I have to because if you have to make a decision like this, it is better to do it slightly early rather than too late.
“This club is a wonderful platform and basis for the future and the only thing that could disrupt that now is that you can not make the right decisions because you are running out of time.
“That was important to me that I inform everybody as early as possible.”
