How ginger pictures, Fantastic Mr Fox and science homework helped Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk recover from Champions League heartbreak and put together for an additional Wembley closing

The uber-professional, tunnel-visioned Virgil van Dijk could probably write a best-selling book on high performance, psychology and physical recovery, such is his knowledge of the subjects.

But this week’s methods of getting over a setback have been slightly different. After the heartbreak of a European exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, the Liverpool captain might have wanted to curl into a ball at home and feel sorry for himself. But instead he moved past it — thanks to Fantastic Mr Fox and a science project.

There were still the ginger shots in his smoothies, late-night sauna sessions and aerobic exercises in the swimming pool, but the Dutchman knows family time is better for the mind and soul than any physical or mental recovery techniques.

‘Yesterday morning, I woke up a little bit later and did a recovery session in the pool (at home),’ explains Van Dijk in a candid sit-down interview. ‘My son was home as well, so he was in the pool with me and my wife. It was a bit of a together recovery session that took an hour.

‘Then I had a long nap, because it was much needed! And then in the evening I went to a show at school, because one of my daughters had a play, something called Fantastic Mr Fox.

‘She (Jadi) was really good, so I was really proud of her. I came back in the evening and she had to finish a science project, and me and my wife helped her a little bit with it. This morning I did the school run, and now I’m with you guys here.

Physical and mental recovery took on even greater importance for Virgil van Dijk and his Liverpool team-mates this week

The Premier League leaders crashed out of the Champions League on penalties in a defeat by PSG

‘I’m also a normal father, husband and man… I like to do normal things as well as play football. Going to school is a nice thing. Obviously some of the kids are looking up, thinking, “What are you doing here?” But the most important thing in life is my kids and my wife.

‘But funnily enough, with the play, there were also more kids from our team there. Wata (Endo), his son was also playing a good role, so it was nice to see each other there. My daughter was the mother of the foxes. And I remember Wata’s son was a rat! He did very well.’

With Van Dijk turning 34 this summer, it would be easy to label him the wily old fox of the team. Clever and cunning is the dictionary definition so, in some ways, it works — but the captain of Liverpool and the Netherlands sees his age as just a number.

‘I feel I am in one of the best shapes of my career and you have been seeing that,’ he says. ‘I enjoy playing, leading the boys out, being there for every one of them and the responsibility more than ever, maybe because I am getting older slowly.

‘But listen, I feel fine. So let’s wait and see.’ Van Dijk has played every minute in the Premier League this season and missed just one game in the Champions League — a dead rubber when the league phase was already won — a statistic that backs up the theory that he can play at this level for many years to come.

Which brings us on to the elephant in the room during every conversation with Van Dijk. He speaks to the local Liverpool reporters each week — not by obligation, he seeks out the folks he calls ‘my guys’ almost as a spokesperson for the dressing room, after magnificent wins or bruising defeats.

And rarely does a chat go by without him being pestered about his future, with the defender’s contract expiring at the end of this season.

In this more relaxed setting ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, Van Dijk opens up slightly more.

‘The only thing I can say is that I am so proud to be the captain of this beautiful club that means so much to me and has meant so much to me in the past, as well as to my family,’ he says. ‘The full focus is on the next 10 games. The fans love me.

‘I can’t think about what is going to happen after the summer. I am fully committed to Liverpool Football Club at the moment and there is no doubt about that.

‘There is no need to panic, whatever may happen in the future. If I was worried, you would see me playing a little bit worried and that is not the case.

‘Let’s see what it brings and I am sure by the end of the season there will be news. But what kind of news, I am not sure.’

One thing Van Dijk is sure of is that he will give maximum effort to retain the Carabao Cup, after his match-winning goal in the final against Chelsea last season, a header deep into extra time of a tight game.

‘With Jurgen (Klopp) leaving, and me eventually scoring the winner, I think it was a special evening,’ he reflects. ‘If I think about it now, it brings back so many good memories.

‘I just wanted to lift the trophy with Jurgen, that was the main target, to get my first trophy(as captain) and lift it together with Jurgen. I was happy that I could do it.

‘For me personally, my kids, my wife, my friends, my family, everyone, the fans, it was special. I will not forget that easily.’