Wayne Rooney has admitted that he was completely unaware Virgil van Dijk would be conducting the post-match interview when the Liverpool defender confronted him live on TV on Tuesday evening. The Manchester United icon had criticised Van Dijk on multiple occasions this season, but has now conceded one remark he made was 'unfair'. Rooney has been especially vocal about Van Dijk's captaincy in recent weeks during Liverpool's unexpected slump in results.
The Netherlands international responded on Tuesday and questioned Rooney about some of his observations during a live interview on Amazon Prime following Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League. Whilst Rooney has maintained his position and remains convinced that the centre-back has underperformed, he has now retracted his suggestion that he had 'downed tools' following the signing of a lucrative new deal. Speaking on his podcast with BBC Sport, Rooney praised Van Dijk for standing up for his side as he analysed their television confrontation.
The 40-year-old said: "I thought he was good that night, and I had loads of people say, 'Oh, when he came up to you,' I think fair play to him for coming out. We didn't know he was coming out.
"It was meant to be [Dominik] Szoboszlai, I think, to come to the table. But I think fair play to him, he came out and he put his point across. Listen, Virgil van Dijk over the last five, four years has been one of, if not, the best centre-backs in the world, and his performances have dipped over the last few weeks.
"I've had my opinion on that; he has his own, which you have to respect. But when you're the Premier League champions, teams are coming for you, and when you don't win one game, people ask questions.
"So, when you don't win four games in a row, of course, there are questions of the captain. I think I said it a few weeks ago on here, what he should be and he will be doing is getting the players together.
"I think he said that he got the players together and took them for a meal or something, trying to bring that chemistry back, and that's what I was saying he should be doing as a captain, and he's done that. It certainly seemed to help in the Madrid game.
"He's a fantastic player, but he hasn't started the season great. You want to see good players playing well, and he performed well [against Real Madrid]. So, for him, I'm sure for Liverpool, he hopes that continues."
The former Red Devils striker was taken aback when Van Dijk emerged for an interview on Amazon Prime, having anticipated Szoboszlai would appear from the changing room instead.
When questioned about the moment he discovered the Reds skipper would be speaking, Rooney responded: "When he was there, and I think it's great. No disrespect to Szoboszlai, but I'd rather speak to Van Dijk."
The Old Trafford icon continued: "I think the issue is, when you're you don't play well and you're not winning games, as Premier League champions, everyone's going to have an opinion.
"And, of course, when you're not playing well or you're not winning games that opinion, they're going to look at why and give their thoughts why. Liverpool can use this in two different ways: they can let it affect them, or they can use it to spur them on.
"You look at Man United over the last few years, the criticism that they've had. I played the game, I was captain of England, captain of Man United. I got criticized for for all kinds.
"That's part of being a top player. You have to deal with that. You have to accept it at times. Listen, I was unfair with my comments, I'd be the first to hold me hands up.
"Same way I did with Man United when I had a rant about them and then they won games, and I come back on that. If I was unfair, I'd be fair to hold my hands up.
"He's sat at home now, when he reflects on his performances this season, I'm sure he'd be the first to say they haven't been at the level which he set over the last few years. The best players, top players, which Van Dijk is, use that to spur them on."
Addressing the 'downing tools' remark, Rooney concluded: "I think Van Dijk, his issue was– maybe I was a bit unfair on that because I don't know him as a person. I said he got his new contract and he looked like down to it a little bit.
"So maybe I was a little bit unfair on that comment, but from a performance point of view I think I was speaking what I felt and what I was seeing and I think I was right on them."