Why Van Basten called Van Dijk 'weird'
FT Desk
- 27 Sept 2022 17:09 BST
- 3 min read
The Netherlands are on 15-match unbeaten run, but their captain Virgil van Dijk has still come in for some criticism from Dutch former goal-fiend Marco van Basten…
Former Ajax and AC Milan striker Van Basten scored 24 goals in 58 games for his country before his career was cut short by injury at just 28 back in 1995 - although he still had time to win three Ballons d'Or.
Most recently the Netherlands assistant manager, Van Basten is now an interested observer of the Dutch national team, and he most recently watched them beat Belgium 1-0 to conclude their UEFA National League Group A4 campaign undefeated.
😁 All together now...
HE'S OUR CENTRE-HALF
HE'S OUR NUMBER FOUR
WATCH HIM DEFEND
AND WE WATCH HIM SCORE
HE'LL PASS THE BALL
CALM AS YOU LIKE
HE'S VIRGIL VAN DIJK #LFCPreSeason🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Yq72c0BB2T— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 21, 2019
Van Dijk started at the heart of a back three with Manchester City's Nathan Ake and recent Manchester United target Jurrien Timber either side, and although they kept their second consecutive clean sheet, Van Basten was left underwhelmed.
'Timber our biggest strength'
"Jurrien Timber is our biggest strength in defense," he said. "He always takes the initiative just like Nathan Ake while actually the best defender [Van Dijk] takes the least initiative of the three, which is weird, that such a great centre back does so little in the build-up.
"Ajax is playing great football thanks to Jurrien Timber and the national team is playing great football thanks to him too. It’s thanks to him that we are able to play so easy out from the back."
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Timber reportedly rejected a move to Man Utd in the summer amid fears for his World Cup place, instead staying at Ajax where he has contributed the most blocks (three) and the most progressive passes (seven) per game among any defender league-wide.
Van Dijk is still regarded as one of the very best in the world in his position, but his confidence may have taken a knock with Liverpool getting off to their worst ever start to a Premier League season under Jurgen Klopp this term.
