Celtic's Virgil van Dijk aiming for treble after red card overturned
Monday 16 March 2015 16:18, UK
Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk feared a red card at Tannadice had wrecked his dreams of playing in the Scottish League Cup final.
The defender was sent off during the Hoops' quarter-final draw with Dundee United following a melee involving home midfielder Calum Butcher.
Referee Craig Thomson sent off Van Dijk before dismissing Butcher's team-mate Paul Paton in a clear case of mistaken identity.
That left both men sweating on their places for Sunday's Hampden final before the duo were cleared after successfully appealing their punishments to the Scottish Football Association's disciplinary panel.
And it was Van Dijk who was left bearing the brightest grin as his side clinched Ronny Deila's first trophy as Parkhead boss with a 2-0 win at the national stadium.
"It was quite a tough week. I've never experienced anything like it in my life,” said the Dutchman. "It would have been very disappointing if I'd not been allowed to play on Sunday, especially with it being my first final ever.
"But you know, justice was served and I was able to play. Luckily I got the red card overturned and we did a good job."
Van Dijk has been linked with a summer move to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Southampton reportedly interested, but for now the 23-year-old is happy to help Celtic's quest for a domestic treble.
"It means a lot to have lifted the League Cup," he said. "It's my first cup trophy ever.
"This club is an amazing place, I have always said that. I have been improving since the day came here. That is the most important thing for a player. If you win trophies, that's even better."
Celtic will meet Dundee United again on Wednesday - the third of their four meetings within a fortnight - in their Scottish Cup quarter-final replay but Van Dijk admits a win is far from assured.
"They will be up for it on Wednesday night and know they have possibilities with the players coming back in to their team," he said. "But we need to be ready and win the game."
