Dutch journalist René van der Gijp has had enough of the ongoing criticism aimed at Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk from certain Dutch analysts.
Recently appearing on the KieftJansenEgmondGijp podcast, the journalist labelled recent criticism as “ridiculous” and “insane”. FC Update report his comments.
The former winger made it clear that he cannot understand why pundits continue to speak disparagingly about the Liverpool defender.
World Cup worries
In the podcast, fellow panelist Wim Kieft wondered whether Virgil van Dijk will be fit for the Netherlands at the World Cup this summer.
“He has played so many matches. And then again that insane battle against Everton, where they keep pounding into you the whole game,” he said.
“Then you still have to play a World Cup; surely you must be completely worn out by then?”
That prompted a response from Van der Gijp, who expressed disbelief at the tone used by well-known Dutch journalists when it comes to Liverpool’s captain.
“Valentijn (Driessen) and Johan (Derksen), but others too, speaking quite disparagingly about Virgil van Dijk,” he said, prompting Kieft to label it “ridiculous”. “That is ridiculous, yes,” Van der Gijp agreed.
“In the Premier League, people simply regard him as one of the very best ever. At our table, people don’t say he isn’t that good; they say he isn’t very capable.”
The journalist then admitted that he will be staying quiet on shows in future, even if the Van Dijk negativity resurfaces. Why? Because he finds such comments to be wildly misplaced.
A debate that isn’t going away
While Van der Gijp may want to come out fighting for Virgil van Dijk, the reality is that critics have had reason to criticise him at times this season. The 34-year-old has not been at the levels he’s set previously.
He has even admitted publicly that he’s worried about the mental impact Liverpool’s season could have moving forwards.
The defender seems to know that the team’s standards have slipped. He’s undoubtedly been a part of that. He has, though, not been the major problem at Liverpool this season.
And perhaps that’s what Van der Gijp is getting at. While some of the Dutch criticism has been warranted, it’s been over the top. And now he thinks it’s time to call it out.