Virgil van Dijk admits Liverpool are ‘frustrated’ at missing out on the Premier League title.
Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered just one defeat all season but still failed to end a domestic drought dating back to 1990 by finishing a point behind Manchester City.
The Reds’ silverware hopes are still alive with a Champions League final showdown against Tottenham at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium on June 1.
Van Dijk is aiming to channel the title frustration into a positive when Liverpool take on their London counterparts in the Spanish capital next month.
He said: “Frustrated is the right word, I think we are all going to be a little disappointed because we are so close.
“To get 97 points, to play football like we have played all season, we have to be very, very proud. I don’t care about another opinion.
“We work so hard every day to be challenging to be as close as possible but City were just a tiny little bit better than us, and that’s football as well.
“But we have to look on the positive side and remember we are still in Madrid, hopefully we can end the season on a high.
“That’s what we are going to try and do.”
The Holland captain won numerous plaudits during his first full season at Anfield and was awarded both the PFA and Premier League’s Player of the Year.
But Van Dijk admits that he would have traded the personal accolades for a title winners’ medal following Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Wolves on Sunday.
“It’s a big honour, a huge honour, but I would swap it immediately for the Premier League title,” he added.
“To get recognition for what I have done this season is always good, especially as defender.
“But it is all down to everyone around me, and without everyone else who has been working with me, playing with me it wouldn’t be possible.
“Even the team behind the team. Melwood the people who work there, the people around us are so important.”