“This Guy Is Amazing” – Dutch Pundit Reveals What Arne Slot Told Him About One Liverpool Star | OneFootball

Written by Priya Kaur

In a recent discussion surrounding Dutch football and particularly Virgil Van Dijk, we interviewed former Eredivisie forward turned ESPN pundit, Anco Jansen who heralds from the same native town, Zwolle, as Liverpool boss, Arne Slot.

The former Cambuur attacker regularly engages in football discussions with Slot and other ex-footballers, during casual gatherings, often while playing the increasingly popular padel and enjoying a coffee!

Their conversations have frequently turned to Van Dijk, especially after the European Championships, where his performances for the Netherlands received mixed views.

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Van Dijk’s leadership qualities have consistently impressed Slot and according to Jansen, Slot expressed high praise for the player, stating “He’s not normal”.

The manager has been particularly taken aback by Van Dijk’s leadership in both training and matches. In a direct quote, Slot added “This guy is amazing in his footballing abilities.”

While Dutch fans and media have been occasionally critical of Virgil’s performances at the national level, Jansen noted that the criticisms are more a reflection of the lofty expectations placed on him as captain of the national team.

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As Jansen explained, “It’s more so to do with the expectations surrounding him as he is our captain. It was not his best performance, but at Liverpool, he has been unbelievable, and we can see that he can do more.”

In regards to Virgil adapting to Slot’s style of play, Janssen said “He needs to do more with the ball and take initiative.”

This highlights the evolution of his game, where his role is not just limited to being a solid defensive presence, but also as an active playmaker in Slot’s tactical setup.

A major discussion point was van Dijk’s recovery from the severe knee injury he suffered in 2020 after a collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

“We all know that he is an amazing player and captain of the national team. It was a little bit of a setback and when you have a ligament injury, it is not easy to recover, but he has come back strong and in full form.”

This sentiment reinforces the belief that Virgil’s journey to recovery speaks volumes about his character, both as a footballer and as a person.

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His dominant performances as a footballer as well as his club performances for the past eighteen months have shown that the captain is an elite centre-back.

Looking ahead, it is believed that Virgil has a long career still ahead of him, especially with his sights set on the 2026 World Cup.

Jansen echoed that the player, with his quality, intelligence, and game awareness, can continue to play at a high level well until his late thirties, much like other class centre-backs have done.

He is confident that Van Dijk will remain a key figure for both Liverpool and the Netherlands, in the years to come.

Despite some criticism at the national level, Virgil Van Dijk remains a phenomenal footballer, who has continually proven his worth at Liverpool.

His leadership, resilience, and ability to adapt to new styles “Speaks volumes on the footballer and man he is.”