Rafael van der Vaart backtracks on Virgil van Dijk criticism that enraged Jurgen Klopp
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Rafael van der Vaart backtracks on his criticism of Virgil van Dijk, insisting the Netherlands and Liverpool captain remains one of the best defenders aroundRafael van der Vaart has backtracked on the Virgil van Dijk criticism that enraged Jurgen Klopp at the World Cup over the weekend.Van der Vaart, in his analysis for Dutch broadcaster NOS, compared the Liverpool and Netherlands captain to a Boeing 747, which came before Ronald Koeman's side beat Sweden 5-1 on Saturday in Houston, Texas.That comment caused Klopp, who signed Van Dijk for £75m from Southampton in 2018 before seeing him become one of most well-regarded centre-backs in Anfield history, to leap to his former captain's defence in his own role on German TV.Klopp told Magenta: "If [Van der Vaart] ever says something positive about a player, I'm willing to take him seriously again."And speaking in his AceOdds.com column, Van der Vaart has appeared to change his stance, insisting the 34-year-old defender remains one of the finest around."Van Dijk is still our leader," Van der Vaart said. "And I think he is performing well."He was one time turning a bit slow against Japan, but this is normal.
He had a bad injury (ACL in October 2020) and a tough season at Liverpool."He is not getting younger, and for me it looks like he always tries to get the team to stay compact because that benefits him as a player."However, if we truly analyse him honestly, he is still one of the very, very best. Compare Van Dijk with other centre backs, and it's clear that even at a so-so season, he is still elite."He is still our best defender.
Without a doubt."He has been unfairly criticised by some in the Netherlands, but he is still our captain and our leader. I hope he will run a little faster during the tournament."And in his own role at the World Cup on Saturday evening, Klopp, who was in Houston for the Dutch game, snapped back: "I don't know if it's worth naming Rafael van der Vaart at all."But if he ever says something positive about a player, I'm willing to take him seriously again."You have the feeling that he sees something, which then has to be expressed in a flowery way and then he goes against it.