Asked how he has maintained such robustness regarding fitness, Van Dijk says in the latest edition of WALK ON, our official eMagazine: “Discipline, discipline and discipline!
“For me it is something that is quite normal because I feel the responsibility to be there every time and also to perform every time.
“Last year [2024-25] I didn’t do it [play every minute] because for the Brighton game at the end of the season I was on the bench.
“So, it’s not really a surprise, but obviously I’m doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes in order to be ready and take the responsibility for the team.
“So, yes, it is a combination of recovering well, eating well, the right lifestyle in total, also physical therapy. I can’t tell you the details, but yoga, everything. That’s part of it, to make sure that you can perform at a constant level.
“I’ve had one season here that unfortunately I had to miss a lot of, but in the rest of the seasons I think I’ve played more than 40 matches. And I think the most matches before this season have been played in the season after my knee injury.
“That’s quite remarkable. When I heard that I thought it was quite interesting.
“But yes, it’s the best thing there is, playing matches. And I do everything for that and I want to keep doing it at the highest level.”