Welcome to The Athletic FC, where quality football journalism meets bitesize video.
Liverpool & Netherlands captain Virgil Van Dijk is universally adored by his club supporters, but he splits opinion in his homeland. Why?
Let’s find out π€
#lfc #virgilvandijk #footballnews #footballshorts
You can also find us at:
ποΈ The Athletic Football Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAthleticUK
βοΈ Tifo Illustrated: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGYYNGmyhZ_kwBF_lqqXdAQ
π₯ Tifo IRL: https://www.youtube.com/c/tifoirl
βοΈ The Athletic UK: https://theathletic.com/uk/

23 Comments
The Dutch have always had the talent but have always had an issue with getting on with each other
Because those old farts donβt watch his games at Liverpool. Best Dutch defender of all time! π³π±
They are best friends remember.
Liverpool fans – what do you think to the criticism? π€
Imagine being a former pro and wanting to put pressure on your own national team hahahaha
There will always be beloved club players who are under massive scrutiny in their national teams.
Toni Kroos is one of the most respected names in world football yet all of the german "experts" and overweight tv watchers try playing him down.
He was used as a scapegoat after the dissapointing Euro 2021 and was basically mptivated into international retirement.
Same happend with Mesut Γzil after the 2018 World Cup and currently happens with Kimmich.
The best players will always be the first to be criticised and encouraged to step down no matter what they did for their nations before.
I have felt for a over a year now that his ego is his problem. His attitude seems very narcissistic which is never a good thing. I think all the "best defender ever in the prem" talk from before his injury went to his head!
i agee with both of them they havnt said anything wrong this has been taken out if context. They said they think he is the best defender in the world but they expect a little more from him. for example he isnt great at setting up his defence and saying were players should stand that is crucial for a captain and he also isnt great at progressing the ball or using a bounce pass to create space to pass or dribble in to wich leads to a slow tempo and it makes it difficult to break down a low block
The season after of the injury LFC were on to do the quadruple. He played most of the games.
It is the 22/23 season where he lost form. Just a reminder for all football lovers spewing this rhetoric
I'm Dutch and can assure that nobody thinks like Van Basten, let alone Gullit. Van Dijk is the rock of the team. Old stars looking for 5 min of fame. Next story please.
Those are just jealousy. Since Virg weren't came from dutch big 3 youth setup.
As a Dutchman have to say no one takes Gullit and Van Basten seriously and even them for 95% are positive. They are pundits always trying to find something. General Dutch mood is that he is great and happy he is back to his old form.
Itβs like saying we listen to what Michael Owen says
Heβs too passive.
Oranje has been playing unconvincingly for like 3 years now. This year they had almost no chance against the French. They were hammered 4-0; !!
Of course the captain has (some) blame/responsibility for that !!
I am a fan of VvD, but (in Oranje) he is more vulnerable than before his knee injury . As a captain he lacks some (tactical) leadership imo. Even in the first period of Koeman (when they played well usually) the team could not really make tactical changes themselves. That had to be done in the break , by the coach) . Koeman mentioned that himself , back then.
(And yes, back in the day players would adapt tactics themself in the game a lot more …
Gullit and van Basten both also said that the only reason they are this harsh on him because they both think he is the best player we currently have. So in their opinion he needs to be the one carrying the team. I think a lot of nuance is lost in translation, also dutchies can be quite blunt and direct π
They just BIG MAD bc they didnβt have a Dutch defender like that during their generation π€·π»ββοΈπ€·π»ββοΈπ€·π»ββοΈ
What last minute winner even the goalkeeper could score a penalty
The irony of Gullit talking about another footballerβs arrogance! Heβs never gotten over the fact that his own career has long since ended. Prick!
i really dislike van basten for this reason he has also said without injuries hed be the goat doesnt act professional and is very egotistical
van dijk big ego and overrated.
I'm a united fan and he is levels above the Netherlands team and has been for years now
please donβt listen to them. gullit, although he was a great player, has never really understood football and van basten, although he gets paid to talk about football, watches few to no games because he βhas to play golfβ