Liverpool club captain, Virgil van Dijk, defended his Reds teammate against the criticism he had been receiving recently, explaining that football is essentially a team game, not an individual one, and that all players should take the blame for the English club’s poor results during this season.
Liverpool went through a very difficult period in recent months, before the Reds returned and achieved two successive victories over Inter Milan in the Champions League, and then over Brighton 2-0 last Saturday in the English Premier League.
Van Dijk jumped to defend his colleague in Liverpool’s defense, Ibrahima Konate, who was subjected to criticism, in light of the French international’s poor performance with the English club.
Criticism of Konate intensified in light of his non-renewal of his contract with Liverpool, which will expire at the end of June next year.
Van Dijk said in statements reported by the Liverpool Echo Network about Konate: “It is clear that the basis of success is not allowing conceding chances on your own goal, let alone goals. Unfortunately, we conceded too many goals and this is the truth, but we have no choice but to look forward and try to avoid conceding goals, and this is what we did in the last two matches.”
Van Dijk added in his speech: “The season is very long and we want to continue this performance, but it is clear that it requires a lot of work. Every individual in the team contributes to achieving victory and this is what makes it a team sport.”
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He explained: “Irahima Konate is a great defender, and it is natural that when the team does not perform collectively, we as a defensive line are exposed to attack.”
Van Dijk added: “This happened sometimes, in addition to individual mistakes that cost us a lot, including me personally. Unfortunately, this is part of the game.”
Van Dijk continued in his speech: “What is important is how to deal with the situation and how to react to it. Konate, for example, was particularly outstanding in the last two matches. He is working on developing himself as we all do. He helps me and I help him and this is the ideal situation. We are not ideal and he wants the best for the club, and I am absolutely sure that this will be fine.”
He continued: “I was lucky at Anfield to win a lot of matches and keep a clean sheet, and I felt that there was no way for any team to beat us here and that feeling was great.”
He continued: “It is clear that we have suffered in the past two weeks and have gone through ups and downs, and this is a difficult thing to accept, but it is all about hard work and trust, and the way the fans deal with each other, and this is the most important thing.”
Van Dijk concluded: “I think you saw today, as well as in the midweek match, the extent of commitment that exists, and this is a good thing for me as a leader.”
