Van Dijk took to social media to praise new Netherlands coach Xavi Hernández, stating that he decided to remain with the team after just 10 seconds of conversation.

Van Dijk's admiration for Xavi Hernández is no secret. Xavi has led the Netherlands to two wins during this international break and has quickly earned the trust of the squad, at least according to captain Van Dijk.

The Liverpool defender posted a warm tribute to the former Barcelona player on social media. Reflecting on the first week of the national team's training camp, he shared a series of photos, including a match photo from 2013 when his opponent was none other than his current coach.

Van Dijk, then playing for Celtic, faced Barcelona in the 2013/14 Champions League group stage. Van Dijk found a photo from the first leg at Celtic Park in Glasgow, where Gerardo Martino's Barcelona defeated Celtic 1-0 with a goal from Fabregas, assisted by Alexis Sánchez. In that match, both Van Dijk and Xavi started and played the full 90 minutes, with Xavi wearing the captain's armband.

Van Dijk also posted a recent photo of himself at a press conference with Xavi last week at the Royal Dutch Football Association's training center. At that press conference, the defender revealed that the new coach needed only 10 seconds to convince him to stay.

Van Dijk said: "He told me I'm Van Dijk, and that reason alone is enough for me to continue. I wanted to enjoy a well-deserved break with my family first, and then I had an important meeting with the coach. After 10 seconds, everything was clear—I'm staying."

Van Dijk added: "It's all about trust, appreciation, and feeling valued by the team. There's no doubt about fitness, but you also want to enjoy playing and feel respected."

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