Image Credits: Imago Images
Jurgen Klopp has waded into the ongoing debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk’s form at the World Cup, launching a pointed defence of his former captain after a Dutch pundit subjected the Netherlands skipper to a stinging public critique.
The controversy has been simmering since the Netherlands’ Group F opener against Japan in Dallas, a match that ended 2 2 after Ronald Koeman’s side twice surrendered their lead to a resilient Japanese outfit.
Van Dijk earned the Player of the Match award on the night, but that did not shield him from criticism in the Dutch media, where his defensive performances have long been scrutinised with a particular harshness.
Rafael van der Vaart was the man who stoked the fire.
Speaking as a pundit following the Japan draw, the former Netherlands midfielder and Hamburg star delivered a colourful assessment of Van Dijk’s mobility, saying he was genuinely shocked by what he saw.
He said the Liverpool centre back was struggling particularly when turning, adding, “It is proving very difficult.”
“A bit like a Boeing 747 turning.”
“I hope he starts turning a bit faster during the tournament.”
The comments spread quickly across Dutch and European media, but Klopp, working as a pundit for MagentaTV at the tournament, was having none of it.
When asked about Van der Vaart’s remarks ahead of the Netherlands’ second group match against Sweden, the former Liverpool manager dismissed them with barely concealed contempt.
Klopp said, “I’m not entirely sure if it’s worth mentioning Rafael van der Vaart.”
“But if he ever says something positive about any player at some point, then I’ll be happy to take him seriously again.”
“You get the feeling he sees something, and then it has to be formulated in a flowery way, and then he’s really against it.”
“But that way it’s really not important.”
It was a typically direct response from Klopp, who built some of his most successful Liverpool teams around Van Dijk after signing the Dutchman in January 2018.
The two men have remained close, recently crossing paths in the United States during the tournament, with fans reacting warmly to photographs of them together, describing them as the greatest manager and centre back combination in Liverpool’s history.
Van Dijk himself kept things measured after the Japan draw, acknowledging the difficulty of breaking down a compact 5 4 1 defensive structure and calling on his squad to improve.
That response proved well timed.
The Netherlands bounced back emphatically in their second group match, demolishing Sweden 5-1, with Cody Gakpo starring and fellow Liverpool man Ryan Gravenberch impressing in midfield. Van Dijk played his part in keeping another dangerous attack quiet.
With four points from six, the Netherlands now top Group F ahead of their final group stage match against Tunisia, while Van Dijk’s critics, including Van der Vaart, have been left with considerably less ammunition than they had a week ago.