Virgil van Dijk's message to Darwin Nunez after missing Liverpool penalty in PSG shootout
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had a simple message for Darwin Nunez and his team-mates after Liverpool exited the Champions League via a penalty shootout against Paris Saint-Germain
by Scott Trotter · The MirrorVirgil van Dijk has called upon Darwin Nunez and his Liverpool team-mates to keep their chins up after crashing out of the Champions League.
Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones saw their penalties saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma at Anfield, allowing Desire Doue the opportunity to send Paris Saint-Germain through to the competition's quarter-final stage. Ousmane Dembele's goal had earlier put the French side back on level terms, despite an improved performance from the Reds in the second leg.
But Van Dijk's attention is quickly turning to Liverpool's next opportunity to find success. A first trophy of Arne Slot's time in charge of the side awaits if they can overcome Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.
Liverpool's captain wants his team to create a beautiful weekend by finding success at Wembley to help overcome the disappointment they suffered on Tuesday night.
“It’s part of football," he commented after the game. "I said to the guys ‘you can be disappointed because we are out of the competition, but chin up’. Now we get ready for the next challenge at the weekend which is a beautiful one.
"I think we were pretty good today as well, and you want to go as far as possible, but we knew when we drew PSG it was going to be very difficult. We saw in Paris when we struggled but we won, and today we saw a very good Liverpool side but we're out of the competition.
"Today from the first second and then extra time, when fatigue kicks in for both sides, it becomes more open but especially regular time, we showed a very good game. We can speak about the game for ages but we're out of the competition, that is the reality."
PSG boss Luis Enrique credited Liverpool's performance, but reserved extra praise for his goalkeeper, Donnarumma.
"Both of the teams deserve to go to the next phase," he said. "They play better than us here, but I think my team at Anfield, in a special stadium showed great personality and character.
"We tried to play our best, but it was difficult as they're so intense. Both teams deserve to qualify.
"The character and personality, even when we shoot at the penalty shootout they showed great character. I think it shows clearly the team we are.
"When the draw told us about the match against Liverpool and PSG. Both managers thought the same - one of the best matches you can watch in Europe. I think both teams were great.
"It is not about consistency you have to be great in specific moments. We suffered a lot in Paris, but football is in that way. Unfair at times. Today we were lucky, they hit the post a few times. "Gigi [Gianluigi Donnarumma] was like Alisson in the first match. We are happy and confident to go to the next phase."
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