Virgil van Dijk reportedly cut an interview short after being pressed about Erling Haaland's performance during a Champions League match in 2019. The incident occurred after Liverpool's 4-3 victory over RB Salzburg at Anfield, where Haaland scored one goal and could have had more.
Van Dijk's Frustration After Haaland's Display
Former Norway striker Jan Aage Fjortoft, who conducted the interview, revealed that Van Dijk was visibly annoyed when asked about Haaland. Fjortoft told the Blood Red podcast in 2020: "The first time I saw him (Haaland) live was at Anfield when he came on and I was amazed that this young kid created so much space. He scored one goal but he could have had three or four – he was unbelievable."
When Fjortoft asked Van Dijk about Haaland, the defender replied curtly, "Well, we won the game." Pressed further, Van Dijk said, "I didn't see a lot of him," and then walked away. Fjortoft noted, "It's a good sign for a striker when a defender says he didn't see him!"
Haaland's World Cup Campaign
Haaland has since become one of the world's top strikers, leading Norway's attack in the 2026 World Cup. He has scored five goals in the tournament so far, with Norway set to face Brazil in the last-16. A win would send Norway to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998.
Van Dijk's Tournament Struggles
Meanwhile, Van Dijk's Netherlands were eliminated in the round of 32 after a penalty shootout loss to Morocco. The Dutch had topped their group with wins over Sweden and Tunisia but could not overcome the African side.
