Virgil Van Dijk doesn’t require the naysayers to inform him that his performance hasn’t been up to par.
The Liverpool defender, 31, acknowledged the task is to prove he is not a worn-out force following a week that saw him return to his modest beginnings in Holland.
In order to witness the official opening of a Johan Cruyff football court on the housing estate where he spent his formative years and close to the Olympia Catholic School, which he attended as a youngster, Van Dijk took time off from his international commitments to travel back to his birthplace of Breda.
So, at a time when analysts like Marco van Basten, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, and Gary Neville have jumped in with both feet, it was a good time for Van Dijk to reflect on one of the most difficult years of his career.
Van Dijk admitted that he felt a mental burden he had never felt before when he finished just seven points behind Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or voting.
I don’t feel too big to be vulnerable, Van Dijk stated. People need to understand that we are not robots because this season has been pretty stressful with numerous ups and downs. I’ve learned a lot this year, especially off the pitch and definitely mentally.
“In football, nothing is ever easy, but this season was still quite a surprise. Sometimes the criticism of the team or of me personally was accurate. However, it was frequently not exactly correct. In either case, you have to be able to handle it, and I’m glad I handled it successfully. That’s not always simple mentally.
Van Basten attacked Van Dijk verbally, alleging that he was “making a lot of noise without saying anything.”
Neville claimed that opposition players were hitting Van Dijk because they “now felt they had a chance,” Keane criticized Liverpool for “defending like a pub team,” and Carragher added, “I’d take Van Dijk’s place.”
“Criticism is part of it, and it’s definitely not a problem if it’s justified,” Van Dijk continued. However, a football player can tell whether he played well or poorly. Additionally, some remarks are made purely for the purpose of stirring up controversy. These days, there are a tonne of outlets available for people to voice their ideas. Recognize that we are not machines. I’ve learned a lot this year, especially off the pitch and definitely mentally.
“The issue is that as a football player, you really don’t have much to say in response. Once you’ve done that, the puppets start to dance. I deliberately limit how much I read, listen to, and watch. I can disconnect from it. But you do hear a lot of things from other people, and you can’t avoid it.
The Dutchman resorted to his family, friends, and the coaching staff at Anfield when the going got the toughest as Jurgen Klopp’s team failed to uphold the standards that saw them come agonizingly close to winning a historic quadruple in 2022.
“I always talk to people who are close to me,” Van Dijk remarked. That is very significant. No one is too big to talk to or to expose themselves. I talk to my wife a lot at home, and there are enough individuals at the club who specialize in that to chat to there. Nobody’s career is made up entirely of highlights.
But you risk suffering as an athlete if the criticism is harsh and unfavorable. The key is to correctly handle it, and I’m pleased with how that has gone over the past few months.
Liverpool’s late-season comeback earned them a spot in the Europa League, while Croatia’s 4-2 victory over Holland on Friday night ended Holland’s chances of winning the Nations League.
I still have two years left on my contract, and I assume Liverpool still values my contribution to the squad, according to Van Dijk. If not, I’m confident that I would have learned about it. My communication with the manager is good, and I am once again filled with hope. I’m motivated to start preseason with the new guys who are joining because of how we concluded the season.