Virgil van Dijk’s message to Darwin Nunez after missing Liverpool penalty in PSG shootout. – We can speak about the game for ages but we’re out of the competition…

Virgil van Dijk’s words of encouragement for Darwin Nunez following Liverpool’s penalty miss in the shootout against PSG.

After Darwin Nunez’s penalty miss in the shootout against PSG, Virgil van Dijk conveyed a supportive message to him

After Liverpool’s exit from the Champions League due to a penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain, captain Virgil van Dijk delivered a supportive message to Darwin Nunez and his teammates.

Van Dijk urged Nunez and the rest of the squad to remain positive despite the disappointment of being eliminated from the tournament.

During the shootout, both Nunez and Curtis Jones had their penalties saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, paving the way for Desire Doue to secure PSG’s advancement to the quarter-finals. Earlier, Ousmane Dembele’s goal had equalized the match, despite Liverpool’s improved showing in the second leg.

Looking ahead, Van Dijk is focused on the team’s next chance for success. A potential first trophy under manager Arne Slot is on the line as they prepare to face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.

The captain emphasized the importance of bouncing back and creating a memorable weekend at Wembley to alleviate the disappointment from Tuesday’s match.

“It’s part of football,” he remarked post-match. “I told the guys, ‘It’s okay to feel disappointed about being out of the competition, but keep your heads up.’ Now we must prepare for the next challenge this weekend, which is an exciting one.

“I believe we performed well today, and while we aimed to progress further, we understood that facing PSG would be a tough task. We experienced challenges in Paris but managed to win, and today we showcased a strong Liverpool side, yet we find ourselves out of the competition.

“From the start and into extra time, as fatigue set in for both teams, the game opened up, but particularly in regular time, we played very well. We could discuss the match extensively, but the fact remains that we are out of the competition.”

PSG manager Luis Enrique acknowledged Liverpool’s strong performance while also highlighting the exceptional play of his goalkeeper, Donnarumma.

Both teams have earned the right to advance, he stated. “They performed better than us here, but my team demonstrated remarkable character and personality at Anfield, a truly special venue.

“We aimed to deliver our best performance, but it was challenging due to their intensity. Both teams are worthy of qualification.

“The resilience and character displayed, especially during the penalty shootout, highlighted the essence of our team.

“When the draw revealed our matchup against Liverpool and PSG, both managers recognized it as one of the most exciting fixtures in Europe. I believe both teams excelled.

“It’s not solely about consistency; greatness must be shown in critical moments. We faced significant challenges in Paris, but that’s the nature of football—it can be unfair at times. Today, we were fortunate; they struck the post several times.

Gigi [Gianluigi Donnarumma] was reminiscent of Alisson in the first leg. We are pleased and optimistic about progressing to the next stage.”