Man City 3-0 Liverpool: Match Review
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has been discussing the role of his captain Virgil van Dijk.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman believes that there is no better defender in the world than Virgil van Dijk - but only when he is fully focused during games.
Van Dijk made history after setting a new record for his country. In Monday’s 4-0 victory over Lithuania, he captained Oranje for the 72nd time, surpassing previous record holder Frank De Boer. The Reds skipper will also lead the Netherlands into next year’s World Cup
Van Dijk joined Liverpool for £75 million in January 2018. He’s established himself as one of the greatest centre-backs in Premier League history, having won two titles, the Champions League, two League Cups, the FA Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his time at Anfield.
Despite being aged 34, he still rubs shoulders with the top defenders in England and across the globe. But he did come under fire for the goal that the Netherlands conceded in a 1-1 draw against Poland, while former England captain Wayne Rooney has questioned Van Dijk this season amid Liverpool’s lacklustre start to their Premier League title defence.
And Koeman, a former centre-back who won Euro 1988, reckons that Van Dijk is the sort of captain he wants in the dressing room - but there is still room for improvement.
What’s been said
“I just said in my speech that he's the kind of captain you want as a coach," Koeman said to NOS (via Voetbal International). "A true professional, a role model, and a personality in the team. We often talk about what's going on.
We're different, of course. He's much better defensively, has more speed, and his height gives him an advantage. But he also always has moments in matches… Is that concentration, has that become easier?"
"Guus Hiddink always said to me: ' Is the adrenaline flowing?' If Virgil is, then there's no one better," Koeman stated. But in his view, that's not always the case. "It's just moments. When we attack, I sometimes see him wandering when he should actually be closing in, because that way, if you lose possession, you get back into the game immediately. And in that game, there's no one stronger than Virgil. Sometimes he might be a bit too easy, but that's human nature. I felt that way too. But we need Virgil at his very best."
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