Virgil Van Dijk: “We Want More Than Goals From Isak”

The win on Saturday over Crystal Palace was a sigh of relief in more than ways than one, not least of all including Alexander Isak’s first goal since returning from the broken leg he suffered in December. A striker is a striker for a reason, and the emotions that Isak clearly displayed after the goal showed just how much the goal meant to him, and the team.

The pressure of being the most expensive transfer in English football is not worn lightly, either, and when captain Virgil van Dijk spoke to the press following the match, he noted that the striker has received a lot of support but there’s still some expectations for the Swede.

“In terms of what I’ve seen of him everyone knows and sees and experiences as team-mates how outstanding he is. It is about getting games, confidence but obviously scoring goals as a striker – that’s the main trigger for him,” van Dijk said.

“I’m not worried at all about him whatsoever. We want more than goals from him and that’s what he can bring and he just has to keep going and keep working, keep staying fit and keep staying important for the football club because I think he will and he already is.”

While the late return of Isak underlines what a tough year it’s been for everyone, with that goal being his first in 2026, there’s only a few more matches in the season to keep building on that connection with the squad before everyone breaks for the summer and the World Cup.

“It is quite an understatement to say he’s had a tough year. He can probably explain it better but the injuries he had and the timing of it has been bad,” the captain continued.

“But now he is fit and we all know what he can bring and he shows it in training and in games as well. It is on him now to keep showing that – hopefully after the World Cup because at the World Cup we play against each other so he can take it a little bit easier then.”

Van Dijk and the Netherlands squad meet in the group stages in June, playing in the summer heat and humidity of Houston, but before that happens they have to make sure qualify for the Champions League next season.