Virgil van Dijk has known as Wayne Rooney's criticism of him and Mohamed Salah this season “lazy” and has hit out at “ridiculous takes” throughout Liverpool's latest dangerous run.
Rooney, speaking on his BBC podcast, had mentioned there had been an absence of management from the Liverpool captain and Salah this season and that their physique language had not been proper. From late September to late October, Liverpool misplaced six occasions in seven video games, together with at residence to Manchester United and away to Crystal Palace.
Van Dijk has responded to the previous United and England striker but admitted some criticism does get to his teammates. The Liverpool captain mentioned of Rooney: “I didn't hear him final yr. It doesn't damage me. Simply to return 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 only a little bit of a lazy criticism. It's simple guilty the older gamers however he is aware of in addition to everybody else that we do it collectively and attempt to assist one another to get out of this. There are such a lot of platforms these days that everybody can say no matter they like and it will get blown up.”
Nevertheless, the 34-year-old did say some gamers may be affected by the speak across the Premier League champions, who're seven factors behind the leaders, Arsenal. “What I've observed, during the last couple of weeks particularly, is that there's a lot of noise that you don't have any management over and that we have now to take care of as a crew,” he mentioned. “A few of these takes are completely ridiculous. However it's important to take care of that. It's exterior noise that may attain sure gamers, the group. It's about sticking collectively.
“And when there are troublesome moments, I attempt to assist my teammates. I attempt to put them in entrance of me and wish to make them carry out as in the absolute best form after which when issues don't go properly then that's the world we dwell in and folks query a great deal of stuff, particularly if you lose.”
Liverpool obtained out of their outcomes rut on Saturday evening with a 2-0 residence win towards Aston Villa – by which Salah scored his 250th purpose for the membership – and Van Dijk highlighted how some individuals's tune had modified because the shedding run began. He mentioned: “I believe it's a humorous factor, isn't it? As a result of final yr we didn't hear something about this, as a result of clearly issues have been going properly, and we have been additionally seen because the leaders, and this yr when issues should not going in addition to we would like, then we're not doing our job correctly.
“In order that's the life we dwell. We really feel that duty. We wish to lead by instance. Clearly I can solely converse for myself on this case, by the best way. I do know I'm the captain, I do know that if we have now not the very best outcomes or not nice performances, then myself and the supervisor will certainly all the time be questioned. That's half and parcel, .
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“I've talked about it after earlier video games, we have now to stay collectively, concentrate on the duty forward, profitable video games, that's the one factor we will management. And it's not simple to do this for everybody, however for me I'm mature sufficient and I've a really steady life that I can accomplish that.”
