Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has warned Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk that he is too laid back at times.
The former Everton boss, who signed the 6ft 3in colossus [Source: Transfermarkt] when in charge of Southampton, has identified the one area where the 27-year-old needs to improve.
“I told Virgil within 30 seconds of the end of the game against France what I thought,” he told the Mail. “I know him so well – and that means I know where all his little faults are.
“Virgil has to improve, not a lot, but sometimes he is a little too laid back. That needs to change. There are moments as a defender when you should be no more than three feet away from the striker you are marking. And, particularly in Van Dijk’s case, because of the strength and power he has he is too laid back.”
OPINION
This is a criticism that has been bandied Van Dijk’s way throughout his career, although with less and less frequency in recent years. The Reds defender is a superb player who has been in wonderful form so far this season. Indeed, it is hard to find a fault with him. If there were one, however, you would have to say that it’s his occasionally lackadaisical nature. He has such athletic gifts, and is so accomplished on the ball, that he sometimes lacks urgency both when he’s defending and when he’s playing the ball out from attack. Occasionally that will get you punished, that’s just the way it is, and Koeman isn’t the sort of man who’s going to suffer that lightly. If he can see one small area that can be improved he will identify it and urge his player to rectify it. That’s what he’s doing here with Van Dijk. He’s not launching a full scale attack against him, merely telling him the ways in which he can get even better.
