You obviously know a few of the lads already from the Netherlands – Virgil, Ryan and Cody. Have you learned anything from them already about what you might be able to expect at Liverpool?
Yeah, of course. I have had a few conversations with them. Virgil has called me and told me a little bit more about Liverpool and the expectations, those types of things. And made me feel like the guys are going to welcome me well. That’s what I expect from Virgil with how he is in the national team – he’s a big character, captain. They have told me good things.
We saw you practising your Scouse a little bit a few months ago with a clip online. Did you see any of the reaction from Liverpool fans?
I didn’t know it was going to go that viral! For me, it was literally just, obviously Ryan plays for Liverpool and obviously Liverpool is Scouse, so I just did that. I didn’t think it was going to blow up like this. But yeah, it was funny, I appreciate the support.
You’ve experienced Anfield already because you were here with Leverkusen in November. The result didn’t go your team’s way that night but did it make an impression on you, the fans and atmosphere?
One hundred per cent. I think this is the best stadium I played in when I was with Leverkusen: the atmosphere, the fans, the team as well. The whole package is great.
Give us the outside perspective of the quality the team you came up against has…
Ah, you know already, I don’t need to say too much about the quality. They won the league. For me, playing against Liverpool when I was in Leverkusen, really difficult. Really, really difficult. How can I say it? Obviously Leverkusen were still good but you can see that Liverpool is next level.
You’ve had an interesting path through life, born in Amsterdam and you’re coming over here now from Germany. But you spent a long time in England. So presumably that’s going to make things a lot easier in terms of settling in, you know the language and the culture?
Yeah, exactly. Of course. I was born in Amsterdam but I was raised in England so of course I know the culture. I think I’m going to settle in well.
I saw you explain in an interview once after you went to Celtic that your brother had to give you a little push to get you out of your comfort zone. How have you changed over the last few years now you’ve won league titles in two countries and had an invincible Bundesliga season? Has your mindset changed?
One hundred per cent. I was immature back then, I was still a kid. I was just thinking about leaving my friends. That was more important to me at that point because obviously I grew up with them, went to school with them. So for me it was like, ‘Ah, I’m not going to see them now.’ All my brother gave me was a wake-up call. It was needed, 100 per cent, because I really did want to turn [back] that day. But then my brother was like, ‘OK, listen, it’s your chance now. You have to show them.’ And now I’m here. Of course that mindset has changed, 100 per cent.
You’re obviously joining a team of winners, the new Premier League champions. Is your expectation that this winning can continue and you can add to that with Liverpool?
For me, everywhere I’ve been I’ve always won things. It’s always been the league, cups and the league, so I’ve always won trebles. So yes, I want to win trebles, I want to win trophies – I play football to win trophies. I want to win as many trophies as possible.
