Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk challenged Wayne Rooney concerning the pundit’s criticism of his management through the group’s dropping run in an ungainly post-match interview following their win over Actual Madrid.
Alexis Mac Allister’s second-half header sealed a morale-boosting 1-0 Champions League win at Anfield and made it back-to-back victories and clear sheets after Liverpool ended a four-game dropping run within the Premier League by beating Aston Villa on Saturday.
When Liverpool had been at their lowest, after that crushing loss at Brentford, Rooney had mentioned Van Dijk’s physique language was a “concern” and questioned if the captain’s management had suffered after signing a brand new deal on the finish of final season.
Van Dijk mentioned after the win over Villa that the previous England striker’s criticism was “lazy” earlier than Rooney doubled down on his feedback, just for the pair to be introduced face-to-face dwell on TV days later.
Van Dijk, standing straight subsequent to Rooney, instructed Prime in his post-match interview at Anfield that generally the skin noise was “over the top” with out straight referencing the Manchester United legend’s feedback.
He then added: “It would be good if ex-players that played at the highest level, that dealt with difficult moments as well, would put things in perspective.”
Rooney, who appeared shocked by the defender’s feedback, responded by saying: “I think what I’ve said is fair.”
He added: “The response [to their struggles] has been great from Virgil and the team.”
Van Dijk, nonetheless, disagreed and replied: “I think if you would watch games, then I would definitely take the responsibility.
“I feel the remark that I signed my new deal, after which it is like, that is it and I let [things] slide, I feel that was a bit…however that is my private opinion.”
Van Dijk and Rooney’s exchange in full
Van Dijk was asked about the importance of a player’s only meeting after Liverpool’s loss to Manchester United in the Premier League as he reflected on the win over Real Madrid and this led to questions on criticism of the team.
Van Dijk said: “It is simple to say now as a result of we gained twice that [the meeting] helped. In a world of chaos, you need to attempt to keep calm.
“At the time of that meeting we were in October, so much football still to be played, so many twists and turns that can happen. At times the noise was a lot.”
Requested if his feedback had been about anybody particularly on the panel, Van Dijk added: “No. It’s very important to put things into perspective, get your head down and work.”
Requested if the skin noise impacts him, Van Dijk added: “For me personally it doesn’t affect me but as a captain I am dealing with players that might be affected by it.
“In fact [some of the criticism has been fair], in the event you lose 4 or 5 video games in a row as a Liverpool participant, that’s truthful. It’s regular in that sense.
“It’s over the top at times as well, but that is because we live in a world where there are so many platforms, so many people can say stuff and will be picked up and made bigger than what it is.
“I feel it could be good for ex-players that performed on the highest degree that handled troublesome moments to place issues in perspective.”
Rooney replied, saying: “I am not saying something extra as a result of I feel I’ve spurred them on! We have put them on a profitable streak! I feel what I’ve mentioned was truthful.
“When you win the Premier League and then you go on a run where you lose three, four games in a row, which you don’t expect from Liverpool over the last few years.
“After which Virgil, you because the captain, that is your alternative to go and lead the gamers in. That occurs in soccer and I feel the response has been nice from Virgil, from the group.”
Van Dijk: “I feel in the event you would watch video games, then I’d positively take the accountability. I feel the remark that I signed my new deal, after which it is like that is it, and I let it slide. I feel that was a bit…however that is my private opinion.”
Asked if he uses things like that to motivate him, Van Dijk said: “No. I need to carry out for the group, for the membership, for every one that may assist us via thick and skinny.
“When we go through a tough time as a team, when we’re losing games, obviously I’m fortunate that didn’t happen too many times, it hurts me so much. And I want to turn this around because I also see the hard work we put in each and every day. I see the quality that we have.”
