Van Dijk encouraged by Xavi Hernandez’s early impact with Netherlands

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk believes the Netherlands can make major progress under new head coach Xavi Hernandez after his first game ended in a 1-1 draw with Germany.

Van Dijk captained the Dutch side in the competitive stalemate, which offered Xavi an immediate test against a revitalised Germany team managed by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. The match gave the new coach an early opportunity to assess his ideas against leading European opposition.

Speaking to NOS Sport, Van Dijk said the Netherlands’ tactical changes were already visible, although the players still needed time to perform them consistently.

Xavi has introduced a more modern approach centred on proactive defending and an intense high press. Dutch forwards and midfielders regularly attempted to disrupt Germany’s build-up by closing down opponents higher up the pitch, rather than allowing them to develop attacks from deep.

That approach, however, also demands a balance between aggression and defensive structure. Van Dijk acknowledged that the squad must continue improving its organisation both with and without possession as the players adjust to Xavi’s expectations.

“We naturally want to have the ball and pressing is naturally a huge part of that. You are also playing against a team that has a lot of quality. In the end, it was a steady game from us,” he said.

The Netherlands captain felt the result reflected his team’s overall performance, despite periods in which Germany exposed weaknesses. He also accepted that the Dutch pressing game remains a work in progress after only three days of preparation under Xavi.

“I think we deserve at least a point tonight. We played well in spells, but at some moments we were a bit vulnerable. If we press, we can still get better at that. After three days of work, I think it was a great game,” Van Dijk said.