28 March 2023 , 13:08
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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been on the receiving end of an extraordinary rant from fellow Dutchman Marco van Basten, who claimed the Reds stalwart "creates chaos".
Van Dijk is widely regarded as one of the best central defenders in Premier League history for his exploits in a Liverpool shirt, but he was well below his best for the Netherlands when they made the trip to France last Friday night. The Oranje were on the end of a 4-0 hammering that saw Kylian Mbappe net a brace.
As captain for the Dutch side in what was Ronald Koeman's first game back as manager, the expectation placed on Van Dijk is high. Van Basten feels he is not meeting those expectations and fears the captain's armband weighs too heavy for the centre-back because he doesn't talk enough.
"He makes noise, but he doesn't say anything," Van Basten told Ziggo Sport. "He is not clear. A good captain thinks aloud, makes it clear what is going on. He stays in between. He creates chaos. That leads to misunderstandings. That is what you, as a captain, must prevent.
"In the dressing room he is good, football tactically and technically not. You need another gentleman on the field. This has nothing to do with that injury, this has to do with leadership. He makes noise, but he says nothing. That's true. This is in you. This is wanting to win at all costs."
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While the comments make for astonishing reading, Van Basten is not the only Dutch football icon to slam Van Dijk for his performances at national team level.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Is the scathing assessment of Van Dijk fair? Comment below
Virgil van Dijk led a Dutch defence that was cut open against FranceRuud Gullit echoed Van Basten's sentiment as well as going one further and accusing Van Dijk of arrogance and thinking "he's better than the rest".
"It's walking backwards," Gullit claimed. "In England they have already criticised him. He was selected for the world team of the year. He thinks he's better than the rest.
"We see things… Then I think, 'you are captain, you have to solve this'. But he's just commenting a little on what's happening in front of him.
"I don't know if he's doing it, but it doesn't look like he's speaking. He plays so safe. Come on now, you're so big and good. It is a positive criticism that we give. Isn't he the best? Then show it."
Not one to take these kind of comments lying down, Van Dijk has provided a response to the brutal review.
"This is of no use to me," he told Voetbal International. "Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion these days, that’s the case.
"Did I set the bar unrealistically high? How is that possible? It was never perfect, consistent is the right word. We’ve had a lot of success with the team. Football players, they know that better than anyone, have high peaks and deep lows.
Virgil van Dijk has since replied to the brutal criticism"It’s quite normal that you can’t always play consistently. That you have a phase as a club or player where you are looking for your level. People should not forget that."
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Van Dijk has had a difficult season, with bouts of poor form playing its part in why Liverpool looked so off the pace during the first half of the campaign.
However, the defender is going to be crucial to the Reds' chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season via a top-four finish.
Liverpool currently sit sixth, seven points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham but boast two games in hand. Van Dijk has no choice but to dust himself off and put the France debacle behind him once he returns to Merseyside.