Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was forthright in Wednesday’s press conference (Picture: Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk hit out at ‘utter nonsense’ and ‘completely baseless’ claims in the media during a Netherlands press conference on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old could win his 100th cap for his country during the current international break, with 96 to his name ahead of the quartet of Nations League fixtures.
The Liverpool captain also wears the armband for Netherlands and remains an integral part of the team under new boss Xavi.
The centre-back has had some criticism in the Dutch media, though, including one columnist calling for him to step away from international duty after the World Cup.
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Netherlands topped a tricky group which featured Japan, Sweden and Tunisia, but then were beaten by Morocco on penalties in the last 32.
After the exit from the tournament, De Telegraaf journalist Valentijn Driessen wrote of Van Dijk: ‘Every game this World Cup he has betrayed everything our national team stands for. I think he is past it and he thought so himself.’
The same journalist asked him about what went wrong at the World Cup during this week’s press conference, with Van Dijk replying: ‘Well, it’s easy to say in hindsight, “We should have done this differently” or “We should have done that differently”.
Xavi Hernandez has taken over as Netherlands boss (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘One of your colleagues also said, of course, that it was my idea to switch to playing with a back five [against Morocco]. That is utter nonsense. The fact is we simply failed at the World Cup; those are the hard facts.’
It was suggested to the legendary defender that the media bother him, but Van Dijk said: ‘I’ve never had anything against the media, but when nonsense is being sent out there.’
‘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.’
Netherlands fell to Morocco in the last 32 at the World Cup (Picture: Getty Images)
Van Dijk spoke further on why Netherlands moved to a back five against Morocco in Monterrey.
‘The plan is devised by the staff. Nonsense is being spread so that I look even worse. That happens far too often,’ he said.
‘There is no point in bringing it up again now. I was told that it was my fault we played with five, that Ronald Koeman and I have destroyed Dutch football.
‘The staff makes a battle plan for each opponent and you follow it. You don’t ask for approval for every plan. The plan worked for 89 minutes, even though it was a bad match. We almost broke through.
‘The idea that I destroyed Dutch football makes absolutely no sense. I didn’t decide that.’
