Virgil van Dijk and Wayne Rooney got here face-to-face in a tense dwell interview simply days after their dispute concerning the Man United legend’s criticism of Liverpool.
Rooney had taken umbrage with Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s method of main the workforce throughout their current hunch in type and mentioned their mannerisms have been a ‘huge concern’.
The Liverpool skipper then hit again after steering his aspect to Saturday night time’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, calling the criticism ‘lazy’.
And on Tuesday night after Liverpool overcame Actual Madrid 1-0 with an outstanding house efficiency, the Dutchman was interviewed on Amazon Prime throughout the dwell post-game broadcast on which Rooney was a pundit alongside him.
Van Dijk referenced the criticism his workforce have been placing up with, saying: ‘In a world of chaos you must attempt to keep calm and take the attitude of issues. There’s a lot soccer to be performed, so many twists and turns can occur. On the time the noise was rather a lot…’
Presenter Gabby Logan interjected: ‘Are you anybody?’
Wayne Rooney (proper) and Virgil van Dijk got here face-to-face days after their dispute
Van Dijk led Liverpool to their second win in 4 days in a significant reversal of fortunes
With Rooney smiling, Van Dijk replied: ‘No I’m not! I believe it’s essential to place issues in perspective, hold your head right down to work and get out of the scenario, as a result of we’ve got high quality that’s not the difficulty.
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, additionally on punditry obligation, then requested if the skin noise impacts the squad.
‘I believe all of you already know you’re coping with a squad of 25 participant a variety of younger gamers and a few older gamers like myself, everybody lives a unique life,’ the defender defined.
‘Me personally, it doesn’t have an effect on me however I’m coping with some gamers who is perhaps.’
‘Should you lose video games as a Liverpool participant, 4 or 5 in a row, it’s a good criticism, however I believe its excessive at occasions as nicely. However that’s as a result of we dwell in a world the place there’s so many platforms, so many individuals can say stuff and shall be picked up and made greater.
‘I believe it’s good that when ex-players who’ve performed on the highest degree, who handled troublesome moments, put a variety of issues in perspective…’
Rooney, to his credit score then made gentle of the awkward scenario and addressed the elephant within the room.
He joked: ‘I’m not saying something any extra, I believe I’ve spurred them on and put them on a successful streak!’
Rooney defended his unique criticism however Van Dijk wouldn’t let him off the hook
The Liverpool captain led from the entrance after which had a tense interview afterwards
However he then defended his earlier criticism, saying: ‘What I’ve mentioned was truthful, once you win the Premier League and go on a run the place you lose video games in a row that you do not count on of the Liverpool of the previous couple of years… Virgil as captain that’s your alternative to go and lead the gamers, and that’s what I used to be saying. I believe that occurs in soccer, I believe the response has been nice from Virgil and from the workforce.’
Van Dijk wouldn’t let Rooney off the hook, retorting: ‘I believe if you happen to watch video games, I positively take duty! I believe the remark that I signed the brand new deal after which it’s like “that’s it” and “I’ll let it slide”, I believe that’s a bit… however that’s my private opinion.’
‘I wish to carry out for the workforce and the membership and after we undergo a tricky time as a workforce it hurts me a lot and I wish to flip it spherical. As a result of I additionally see the work we put in every day, I see the standard we’ve got.’
Two days in the past, Van Dijk had issued a equally strong defence, responding to Rooney’s critique by saying: ‘I didn’t hear him final 12 months.
‘No, it would not damage me to be sincere. Simply to come back again to this specific participant, clearly a legend, an enormous participant of the sport who impressed so many, I can say solely constructive issues however I really feel that remark is simply I might say it is a bit of a lazy criticism.
‘That is my private opinion. It is easy responsible the opposite gamers however he is aware of clearly in addition to everybody else we do it collectively attempting to assist every one in all us to attempt to get out of this and, like I mentioned as nicely, final 12 months when issues go nicely you do not hear that in any respect. It’s what it’s.
The alternate was comparatively good natured, although barely uncomfortable on dwell TV
‘(Pundits) have to do this job as nicely, so it’s what it’s. Like I mentioned, he has an opinion and we’ve got to cope with it. And there isn’t any laborious emotions, by the way in which. I do not take it personally in any way.’
The Reds have been totally deserving of their win at Anfield on Tuesday night time on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to the membership he walked out on.
Alexis Mac Allister’s header proved to be the distinction however Kylian Mbappe and Co hardly had a sniff and Thibaut Courtois’ heroics spared the guests a extra damning scoreline.
Van Dijk was additionally requested if he had mentioned whats up or deliberate to satisfy up along with his previous team-mate, to which he merely replied: ‘No’.
The captain and Liverpool have responded to the criticism and their run of six defeats in seven video games in the very best method, with two victories within the house of 4 days.
If they’ll go to Manchester Metropolis this weekend and make it three from three, the mini disaster could have been nicely and really averted.
