A new tackle from the past. As Liverpool try to regain their defensive footing before facing Real Madrid in the Champions League, a former Ballon d’Or has launched a fierce criticism of Virgil van Dijk. According to him, the captain of the Reds is no longer the same player, neither in impact nor in mentality. An outing which adds to those, already spicy, of Wayne Rooney in recent weeks.
Gullit’s violent charge against Van Dijk
The author of these words is none other than Ruud Gullit, Dutch legend and AC Milan icon. In an interview with Tribal Football, he believes that his compatriot “doesn’t want to tackle anymore” and must
“reinvent yourself”. “Since his major injury, we feel that he no longer likes contact. The opponents understood how to play it,” he laments. For the former 1987 Ballon d’Or, Van Dijk must regain his combativeness if he wants to become the boss he once was again.
These comments confirm a trend: Van Dijk crystallizes the debates. Already singled out by Rooney, who criticized him for a lack of leadership, the Dutch defender himself admits not being at his best level. If Liverpool regained victory against Aston Villa (2-0), its defense remains fragile, with 14 goals conceded in the league compared to only 3 for Arsenal.
The shadow of the wound and the weight of the cuff
Seriously injured in the knee in 2020, Van Dijk took months to regain full strength. Gullit, who experienced a similar situation, speaks from experience: “After an injury like this, we are different. You have to adapt, reinvent yourself. » A message more lucid than nasty, but which resonates like a warning addressed to the captain of the Reds.
On Tuesday evening, against Real Madrid, Van Dijk will have the perfect opportunity to respond to these criticisms. Leader of a defense in reconstruction under Arne Slot, he will have to prove that he remains this rock capable of extinguishing everything in its path. Gullit has spoken, but on the pitch, the last word could well go to Virgil van Dijk himself.
