VIRGIL VAN DIJK says it was a “clumsy mistake” to say he had silenced his doubters after the Carabao Cup victory.
The 32-year-old Dutch defender appears to be back to his best for Liverpool after suffering two big injuries over recent years.
The ex-Celtic and Southampton centre-back is hoping to help Jurgen Klopp leave Anfield this summer with yet more silverware in the trophy cabinet.
They are in a ferocious fight with Manchester City and Arsenal for the Premier League title while also battling for Europa League glory, with Atalanta up next for them in the quarter final.
However, the Reds have already ensured that Klopp lifted at least one cup in his farewell season.
And that was due to Van Dijk as he headed home the winner to seal a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final last month.
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A clip then emerged of him celebrating in the dressing-room afterwards and saying to the camera: “They thought I was finished…”
As quoted by Voetbal Zone, Van Dijk now admits: “I was talking about it with someone this week; I shouldn’t have done that.
“Why shouldn’t I have said that? Because it now seems as if that negative period really hit me hard.
“Of course it probably did, in moments, but my point was that many people do not realise how complex an anterior cruciate ligament and an inner ligament injury is. And that you don’t just get back to the level you were at before.”
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He continued: “I’m disappointed by the unnecessary sounds I create myself. I don’t like noise around me at all, I prefer people talking about the match.”
Van Dijk then added: “I think it’s clumsy of me. It distracted from what we are doing and what I want – to have a top season with the club and play the best year of my life.”
While many pundits and fans have praised the centre-half for his form this term, he was questioned last season after a number of displays below his usual high-standard.
On that criticism, Van Dijk said: “You have to deal with that and I admit that, like every human being, I am not always immune to that.
“So sometimes you want to make your point, make things right and often that works against you.
“You know, I understand very well that criticism is part of it and that’s fine too. But sometimes you can handle it better than other times. Everyone runs into that sometimes, right?”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
