Jurgen Klopp was recently critical of Rafael van der Vaart for comparing Virgil van Dijk to a Boeing 747 during the Netherlands' 2-2 World Cup draw with Japan, prompting the former Spurs star to respond
14:21, 29 Jun 2026Updated 14:27, 29 Jun 2026
Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael van der Vaart has issued a response to Jurgen Klopp after the German called him out over comments he made about Virgil van Dijk
Rafael van der Vaart said he does not care about what Jurgen Klopp said about him following his criticism of Virgil van Dijk at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Van der Vaart made headlines earlier this month when he unflatteringly compared Van Dijk's turning abilities to those of a Boeing 747 during the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan on June 14, having been left "quite shocked" by the Liverpool captain's performance.
Ironically, Van Dijk scored his side's opener in the game, but it wasn't enough to prevent Van der Vaart from offering him some harsh words, though it wasn't long before Klopp leaped to his former player's defense.
"If he ever says something positive about a player, I'm willing to take him seriously again," Klopp spat during his broadcasting role for German station Magenta TV.
Now, Van der Vaart has issued a response to Klopp 's comments, and although he said he "doesn't care" for them, he has no issue with the former Reds boss and even revealed how he wished he'd played under him during his career.
"Jurgen Klopp is a great coach and a great person, I respect him a lot," Van der Vaart told wetbasis-AceOdds. "He is a manager I would have loved to play under. All the players go through fire for him and I like his passion for the game. I will always listen to him and he has done so much for football.
Jurgen Klop
Klopp was left far from impressed with Van der Vaarts comments on Van Dijk(Image: Getty Images)
"In terms of what he said about me, I don't care at all. I am not the type of person who gets mad or anything. I was critical of a specific moment of van Dijk and of course Klopp was his coach. It is completely normal that he defends him, so I respect that."
Van der Vaart also added that he sometimes feels misunderstood as a person, having made headlines on numerous occasions for comments he's made about other footballers, though he insists he only speaks from "my heart".
"I think I am being misunderstood sometimes. As a person I speak very much from my feelings and my heart," the former Tottenham midfielder continued.
"You know, I get sent questions, I don't even read it. I talk to the person, I am not deaf. I understand the questions and will say what I see, not what I have to say. I did that as a player and I do that now as well.
Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk was called out for his defensive display against Japan in the Netherlands' opening World Cup game(Image: Getty)
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"I don't say anything to make headlines, I actually prefer not to. But I watch the games and sometimes you like the player, you like what you see and sometimes you don't. Not their personality, but their abilities as a player.
"I am so positive about so many players, but when I see something I don't like or they are playing a bad game, I should be allowed to say it. I have to say what I see."
Van der Vaart went on to say that it is simply "part of the job" to speak his mind about the game, and with the Netherlands taking on Morocco in the Last 32 on Monday evening, fans will be braced for more controversial comments from the 43-year-old.