Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand has been discussing Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk.
Ferdinand, being one of the best centre-backs in Premier League history, is uniquely positioned to speak about van Dijk and his recent form, and he believes that the Dutchman isn’t quite back to his best as of yet.
Indeed, while he still claims that he’d be the first centre-back on his teamsheet if he were to pick his world XI, he claims that the defender is having a few teething problems after his return from injury.
What’s been said?
Ferdinand was speaking about van Dijk’s mindset.
“You have to think like that, you have to believe you’re that guy, you have to believe you’re the best. I think Virgil is the best centre-back in the world. Yes there are going to be teething problems, I highlighted a few on BT the other day where he’s turning the wrong way and that, but if I was to pick a centre-back in the game today that I have to pick, it would be him,” Ferdinand said.
Sad reality
The fact of the matter is that any player returning from such a lengthy period on the sidelines will have these problems.
Van Dijk hasn’t been bad this season by any stretch of the imagination, but that muscle memory hasn’t quite returned and his decision making doesn’t seem to be quite as sharp as it once was.
These things will come in time and we’re sure that the Dutchman will be back to his best within a couple of months.
It’s scary that van Dijk still looks like the best defender in the league despite not quite being back to his best yet.
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