Van Dijk Expects Celtic Stay

pic: Jeff Holmes

Virgil van Dijk believes he will still be a Celtic player by the time they take on Dundee United in next month's QTS Scottish League Cup final - because the Hoops insist he is not for sale. The January transfer window shuts on Monday night but so far reported suitors Arsenal, Southampton and Sunderland have yet to make a move, despite apparently keeping tabs on the Dutchman. That would leave the defender free to face Dundee United in the March 15 trophy decider after he helped Celtic to a 2-0 win over Rangers on his Old Firm debut. Asked about his future, Van Dijk said: "Interest is fine, it's always good to have people watching you but I can do nothing with interest and it looks like Celtic don't want to sell me so it looks like I'm staying here. "I'm happy here of course because Celtic is an amazing club and I love being here." Van Dijk had one of his easiest afternoons in a green and white jersey as the Parkhead side clinched victory in the first derby clash in three years. Leigh Griffiths headed Ronny Deila's men in front after 10 minutes before Kris Commons wrapped up the win on the half-hour with a 20-yard screamer. And Van Dijk admitted he strolled through the game. Asked if it was as easy a victory as he could have expected, he said: "Yeah, it was a great start of course, we hoped for an early goal and got that, so yeah, it was an amazing start and they had not even one chance so it was good from us. "I didn't expect more from Rangers to be honest. We analysed them very well, and we knew what to expect. "It was a great experience, everything like the build-up and the tension. There was a lot of pressure on us of because everyone expected us to win, so we did well, especially the first half." However, Gers striker Kenny Miller insists the Ibrox side's second-half Hampden display proves they are not that far behind Celtic. Celtic were prevented from really rubbing their old rivals noses in it as the Light Blues stepped things up after the interval. Even so, Rangers failed to register a single shot on target as Craig Gordon enjoyed a stress-free afternoon. Miller, however, insists people like former Hoops striker Chris Sutton who called for a bigger margin of victory were out of order "I think the gulf is smaller than people were making it out to be. It's as simple as that. We saw some stupid comments from ex-players in the press that were wide of the mark," he said. "People were coming along and saying Celtic were going to score this many and that many because they were overwhelming favourites. "They were overwhelming favourites because they are top of the SPFL and we are second in the Championship. "That is just the obvious reason why they are favourites. They have got better players because they are playing at that better level. They are playing better opposition every week and that makes them a better team. "So I don't think the gulf is as big as everybody made it out to be. "Maybe looking at our first-half display you might say it was but looking at the second, I don't think there is a lot between the teams."