Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has responded to the criticism aimed at him by Marco van Basten after the Netherlands settled for a 1-1 draw against Ecuador.
Louis van Gaal and co. saw Cody Gakpo’s first half goal cancelled by Enner Valencia’s 49th minute tap in. The former AC Milan star blamed the Reds centre-back for allowing the Ecuador striker to find the back of the net.
The 31-year-old has been subjected to criticism for his displays for both Liverpool and the national team this season. It isn’t the first time Van Basten has had a go at his compatriot as the pundit had stated in September that Jürgen Klopp’s man doesn’t do enough for Oranje.
Algemeen Dagblad have interviewed the defender, where he responded to Van Basten’s claims, and his own initial negative reaction, a reaction which ended up all over the Dutch media.
“I don’t think he is really positive, so what should I do with it? I now mainly blame myself, actually,” he said.
“I have to be above that. And then I come back to the hotel after the game and then I think: that is (his reaction) of course already on AD. Fine, that’s how it works. And apart from that: I can handle criticism very well. When you play at the top, you are constantly criticised when things go a little less..”
The Liverpool central defender further suggested the comments made by Van Basten felt like a personal attack on him.
“It also felt a bit like an attack on me as a person, on my role as a leader. I thought that at such a moment, so shortly after the game, well… that just triggered me. I’m only human,” Van Dijk explained.
“That Van Basten says that I should have put more pressure on the ball with that goal against, that I did too little? Fine. Those are football moments. They must also be critical. I know very well when I make a mistake, or when I can do something better.”
The former Southampton man also detailed the difference in his role at Liverpool and the Netherlands, which is why he is not able to contribute so much in the build up with the latter.
“But that also has to do with our way of playing. I am the middle [of back 3] with Oranje. In the build-up, the left and right centre-backs are perhaps even more important. And rightly so: Nathan Aké is left-footed, Jurriën Timber is also very good on the ball,” he said.
“In my role I often have the striker in front of me, and I am the lock on the door. I feel very comfortable with that, I really do, but it is a slightly different role.
“No [formation not an issue], not at all. Because we have played very well in this formation in the past 10 games or so. In possession of the ball, in putting pressure: that often went very well, against not the lowest countries. We need to get back to that level – and fast.”
