Virgil Van Dijk has been criticised for his performances at Euro 2024 with the Liverpool defender criticised for his performances in Germany.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot will have a tough task to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield with the former Feyenoord manager chosen to replace the German.
The Reds won the Premier League in 2020 and the Champions League back in 2019 so the Dutchman will have big shoes to fill at Anfield.
One of the key priorities of the Dutchman will be contract extensions with sources telling HITC that the renewal of Virgil Van Dijk’s and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contracts are key for the club this summer.
Van Dijk criticised for Euro 2024 performances
Van Dijk has been key for the Netherlands at the 2024 European Championships in Germany as they reached the semi-final of the competition.
England beat Ronald Koeman’s side thanks to a late winner from Ollie Watkins to see the Three Lions through to their second major final under Gareth Southgate.
Van Dijk has received criticism from the Dutch media about his performances in the competition.
“I find it horrible. And then those soothing texts, afterwards. A kind of pseudo-leader,” said journalist Johan Derksen before Valentijn Driessen said he is “just like a preacher”.
“He didn’t take things in hand. That is also because he does not want to play the way the Dutch team wants to play, forward. Instead, he prefers to play towards the back.
“He wasn’t passed by any player for a year, but that’s because he always runs backwards. Then you don’t get passed.
“This (his comments on retiring) already says enough. He is thinking of quitting Liverpool and the Dutch national team. So that is already in his head. Then you actually have to say it’s goodbye.”
Van Dijk’s harsh criticism for international performances
For the last couple of years, the Liverpool defender has certainly received some harsh criticism from the Dutch media for his performances for the national team.
Van Dijk was slammed during the Euros for having ‘no courage’ and it seems the pressure is on the Liverpool defender to be the main man for his country.
The Liverpool defender is treated as a god for the Reds but for his country it’s a different story and you wonder if that will ever change.
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