Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has insisted he doesn’t mind criticism, but it can have an effect on a player’s ‘well being’.
Van Dijk has returned to Liverpool’s first team this season after missing the majority of last season after damaging the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the Merseyside derby.
That saw him spend nine months on the sidelines recovering, a process which saw him miss the European Championships with the Netherlands in the summer.
He was thrown straight back into the mix by Jurgen Klopp this season and has played 90 minutes in all but three Premier League games, missing clashes with Newcastle, Tottenham and Leeds after testing positive for Coronavirus.
His return has been warmly welcomed after his absence caused numerous problems for Liverpool last season.
There has been some criticism, though, with the Dutchman sometimes struggling in games and receiving criticism for several of his performances.
“I don’t mind; I’ve set the bar high myself,” he told De Telegraaf.
“When you are on the pitch, everyone thinks you are 100 per cent, and I understand that too. Whether you have been ill or were out of action for a year due to a serious injury does not count for the outside world.
“You have won all those awards, and so that has become the standard. But I’m doing my very best at this club and try to play the best game I can every week.
“There have definitely been moments when things could have been better. But I am also a human being, and everyone makes mistakes.
“I know myself that I am doing everything I can to stay at top level. It’s just that we live in an age where everyone, especially on social media, makes their opinions public. There are even bigger platforms, and that can have quite an impact on your well-being.”
