Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has again shrugged off criticism being aimed his and the Netherlands’ way, insisting people can have their opinions and they won’t affect him.
The centre-back has been speaking to Algemeen Dagblad while on international duty ay Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
The Netherlands currently sit top of Group D at the tournament after beating Poland in their opening game and then drawing with France in the second game.
That draw against the French could have easily been a second win had Xavi Simons late winner not been ruled out by VAR.
Despite a positive performance against the much-fancied French side, the Netherlands faced criticism after the game, particularly from the media in their own country.
This is nothing new for the Liverpool defender, who has regularly found himself as the topic of discussion over the last few years as he’s battled to get back to the levels he once managed.
The Dutch centre-back is undisputedly one of the best defenders in Europe but has consistently been the subject of conversation by analysts and the media in his homeland.
That’s continued again at Euro 2024, but he’s not particularly bothered, insisting he pays no attention to what the media, or anyone else, has to say.
“You don’t have control over people’s opinions,” he said.
“One person may have very high expectations of us, while the other may have said before this European Championship that ‘they will be back in the Netherlands in no time’.
“If you listen to everyone who has something to say, your feelings will continue to fluctuate. That’s part of it. That is also the case at the club. It’s football, everyone has an opinion.
“No (it doesn’t irritate), if that were the case I would really have a very unpleasant life. How you want to see it also depends on how you approach or want to approach life. For journalists it is something to talk about and that is fine.”
