Jurgen Klopp has leapt to the defence of Virgil van Dijk amid his former player's confrontation with the Dutch press. The ex-Liverpool boss and the current Reds defender are poised to face each other when the Netherlands welcome Germany in the Nations League.
Before the match, Van Dijk engaged in a heated exchange with Dutch journalists as controversy surrounding the Netherlands' World Cup knockout by Morocco persisted. During a tense press briefing, Van Dijk dismissed suggestions as "utter nonsense" that he had influenced tactical changes that contributed to their last-16 departure.
Van Dijk hits back at critics
He told one reporter: "One of your colleagues also said, of course, that it was my idea to switch to playing with a back five. That is utter nonsense. The fact is, we simply failed at the World Cup; those are the hard facts."
"We didn't play a good World Cup. It's not about me. You perform together; you're a team. Your claim that I destroyed Dutch football after the World Cup – that sort of thing is completely baseless."
Klopp's support
Klopp, who is preparing his first match in charge of Germany, became aware of the combative encounter and believes Van Dijk has been unjustly targeted for blame. He said: "I think you yourselves know that you are quite critical. Virgil should tell you that."
"Our German journalists are pretty good too [at being critical], but you might not even be that much worse. I haven't really followed the Dutch press, but I assume you weren't happy with the elimination."
"Then the captain gets more criticism too. Virgil has had a lot of great moments in his career and also a few lesser ones. Because he is not only physically present, but normally also because of his performances, I can imagine that he gets singled out a bit."
Van Dijk's international future
Van Dijk, 35, could earn his 100th cap during the current international break, provided he features in all four of the Netherlands' Nations League fixtures against Germany, Greece and Serbia (twice). The defender has admitted he considered his international future following the World Cup, though he swiftly decided to carry on after holding talks with new head coach Xavi.
He said: "I needed a holiday with my family and then an important meeting with the national coach: After 10 seconds it was already clear that I would continue."
"What he said? That I am Virgil van Dijk. It is about trust, appreciation, how important you are for the team. Physically, there is - and was - no doubt but you also want to feel appreciation and pleasure."
The Netherlands and Germany, who face off in Amsterdam on Friday evening, are placed in Group A2 alongside Serbia and Greece. The top two nations in each group will progress to the quarter-finals in the spring.
