Reds blogger Steve Daughtry caught up with Van Dijk at the launch of, 'Offside', a locally made feature film about football from Urtext Productions.

442 - Sergio, what was it that made you decide to spend the next three years in Adelaide?

SVD - I think that the few weeks I've been here now have played a big part in my decision. Living here, playing well in the team and playing in the Champions League as a team, that's the main reason I signed.

442 - You were being chased by quite a few clubs. Did you click personally with the team? Did you click with the system? Did you like the city or...?

SVD - Yeah, I like the sunshine! That's one thing Adelaide has... It's a total package of course, all factors in one. I like the stadium - it's a real football stadium and Adelaide is a football city. I can feel more interest in football already, in these last four weeks I've been here. And of course the team, the way we play. I have a lot of confidence in my team-mates and I hope we can keep the team together and maybe add some more quality players. Those things are important to me. Beforehand I didn't see myself living here - with all respect for Adelaide of course - I was really happy in Brisbane but experiencing Adelaide was a good thing for this decision.

442 - The question a lot of people are going to ask is, "How do you feel about playing that lone striker within the system?" How does that suit your style?

SVD - To be honest, it's a system you learn in the Netherlands from your youth. One striker and two wingers. I don't know, every system has its advantages and disadvantages but I think this one suits me. I can play with two strikers as well so I guess that's my own personal advantage.

442 - What do you think about the boy everybody's talking about - Matthew Leckie? What do you see when you look at him play?

SVD - I think he's a great talent. He's young but he's already used to playing at an adult professional level. If he keeps on developing I foresee a big career for him. If he makes the right steps at the right time then I think he'll become a big player. It's a long way to go but the first signs of becoming a big player are there.

442 - We won the wooden spoon this year...

SVD - Yeah, I know, I know.

442 - You must have had a sense that you were coming to a team that was struggling and then, all of a sudden it's come alive with you and Marcos (Flores) arriving. Was it you or was there something waiting to happen?

SVD - There are a lot of things. First of all, what I thought before  coming to Adelaide was that the players have a lot of ability - they are quality players - so it's not about that. It's not about that, it's a confidence thing. It's more in the head, you know, that it's not going well and if you lose a couple of games it gets worse and worse. I always saw that there was potential in this team with players like Travis Dodd, Pantelis, Leckie, Cornthwaite, Fyfe, Jamieson - already a lot, I can't even name them all. I think me coming in, Marcos coming in, holding up the ball more in front of the goal - it's a combination of things. Maybe the players are happy that they have someone who's known as a goalscorer in the team and it gives them confidence as well. We all play a part in these things. It's a silly game that way, it's more in the head than people lacking quality or ability.

442 - The fans are pretty happy about having a goalscorer in the team who's at the peak of his career. You're the perfect age, you're experienced, you're confident you can score goals. We're in the ACL now and with the way we're playing there's a realistic chance we can replicate the run we had last time. If that happens, some of the big Asian clubs are going to come sniffing around for you.

SVD - Yeah. But then it's profitable in both ways . For me, yeah, but also for Adelaide. That's always the thing you have to keep in your mind before you sign a contract. There's always the chance that something might happen and, if it does, both parties have to have a good profit from it. If something happens then we'll see but I'm happy to stay here in Australia. I've been to China last week and I don't really think it's a place where me and my family would have a good quality of life.

442 - The quality of life here is pretty fantastic.

SVD - Yeah, that's what made me decide to sign for Adelaide. You have to look at all those things and then make a decision. Adelaide was it.

442 - As a player do you have personal goals? Is it always in a player's mind to go up to the next level?

SVD - Yeah, I think that's a player thing. You always want to get the best out of yourself and if you don't set a goal that's a little bit higher than you currently play then you don't push yourself. It's part of the game to push yourself to the next level. The other thing is that you might leave if you do well. As long as everyone profits. But I want to become champions with Adelaide and I have the feeling, especially since the ACL, that we can become champions these years. I'm really confident. I don't know why but - we have to show it next season - I hope we can do it.

442 - Finally, do you have a message for the fans?

SVD - I hope they still support us like all the other years. We might have had a bad year but we're doing our best now to get back on the road. Next season's a fresh start and if everyone helps we can become champions together - as the whole city of Adelaide.