Cup triumph fires van Dijk up to become history Bhoy

VIRGIL VAN DIJK has made clear his determination to write himself into the Celtic history books by winning the Treble this season.

Indeed, the forcefulness of his statement was up there with the way he throws himself into a 50-50 tackle. He wasn’t for messing.

A domestic clean sweep is very much on the Parkhead club’s radar and the Dutch defender is focused on the job in hand.

He stressed: ‘We won the League Cup and we’re still in all other competitions. We can win the Treble. I want to write history, like everyone in the team. I think we have a really good chance.

‘If we are up for it and go for it 100 per cent, we can win everything.

‘We are playing well and we know what the manager wants. We’ve started to score goals and keep clean sheets. It gives confidence to everyone. Everything is falling into place.’

Van Dijk hoped to be away on international duty this week with Holland but was been overlooked by coach Guus Hiddink. Not being involved is likely to make him want to secure his exit from Parkhead in the summer to England or Spain.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is a known admirer of van Dijk’s and, judging by the Celtic defender’s admiration for the Dutch icon, he sounded like he could be tempted into joining him on the south coast.

Van Dijk said: ‘It’s always good to see your fellow countrymen doing well. Koeman is a good coach, a good manager and a good human being as well.’