Virgil van Dijk is a busy man.
A very important player for Liverpool and a very important player for the Netherlands, the defender has a heavy football schedule.
With seemingly endless matches, Van Dijk has been known to switch off at times and it’s a criticism that has been sent his way repeatedly. Short losses of concentration which could see his side punished.
De Telegraaf have asked the Liverpool player about that criticism, and he accepts it’s a valid one: “No, it does not bother me at all. There are times when I am less sharp. I work on that and I get help from coaches and fellow players. It happens to many players, but it’s about whether those moments are punished.”
When the Netherlands faced France recently, it was thought by many Dutch pundits that Van Dijk let Olivier Giroud get to the ball too easily and score for the world champions.
The defender accepts that perhaps he could have done more, but said many of those judging don’t have experience of the situation.
To keep his mind sharp with so many games, the former Southampton is packing as much sleep in as he can, telling the Dutch newspaper: “Every three days a match, a day off in the month and continuous training, competition and recovery to get your body fit again 
for the next race. At the highest level, Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Nations League with Oranje, plus all the traveling.
“Yes, then there is a lot of pressure on. It is important that you are free in your head and for that I rest a lot, just sleep. You do not see me in the pub after a game or during the week.”
