Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk admits he has to improve his performances, not because of the scrutiny he is receiving, but because he feels responsible for his inconsistent form.
The Netherlands captain’s season has matched that of the team in not being at the highest level and as a result, a player who has regularly been hailed as the best defender in the world has come under fire.
Van Dijk pointedly criticized the former professionals-turned-experts for not appreciating the current situation at Anfield (they have eight injured players), but accepts that he and the team must raise their standards.
“What we did last week (losing 4-1 to Napoli) was unacceptable, all of us, and the days after that game we definitely had a reality check,” he said.
“The obvious criticism is there, but ex-pros and players who have played at this level know that there are times when you can have a problem, a period like this unfortunately, and it’s how you react to it.
“They have been in our situation and everyone has been acting like you can’t have a bad period, a tough game or a tough situation.
“It’s too easy to say these kinds of things, but they’re doing their job and that’s what they’re doing. I would never go down that road (being an expert), I think.”
About him, the Dutchman, who has been captaining the team when James Milner has not been summoned due to the absence of the injured Jordan Henderson, added: “That’s the good and the bad. If we do well, obviously I get praise and if we don’t, I don’t.
“But I still think I need to improve and that’s fine. The only way to do that is to play the games, learn from your mistakes, not listen too much to the outside world, talk to the people close to you.
“I have said it many times, we are all human beings and we all want to do the best we can and the same happens to me. I know for a fact that I can do much better, but we can all do better.
“It hurts a lot if we concede goals and don’t keep a clean sheet and I feel that responsibility, but that’s a good thing.
“I want to change this season not for myself, but for all of us who are associated with the club and want to perform the best we can.”
The 2-1 win over Ajax that gave Jurgen Klopp’s side their first Champions League points of the campaign came after they took the lead for the second time in eight games this season.
Even then, they weren’t defensively resilient enough to keep opponents at bay, and that fragility has been a major cause of the problems.
But Van Dijk believes Ajax’s win has given them a foundation on which to build.
“There are reasons why it’s not going so well. I think the reasons have been highlighted, especially the game against Napoli”, he said.
“We were absolutely shocked that night, we know, it hurts all of us, it hurts me.
“We talk about it, draw a line under it and show glimpses (against Ajax) of who we normally are. We are good if we act as a team.
“That is the reason behind the success we had in the last five years. We press as a team, we defend as a team and if you start doing it little by little and people are not in the best shape of their life, it’s difficult.
“Everyone wants to do their best, but if you’re not in the same connection, you can have performances like we had last week.
“I think it’s a good start to be where we want to be again, we don’t get carried away because things can change easily, but we have to be positive, believe in our structure and believe in ourselves.”
