Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk showed true character with response to Erling Haaland question

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is as uncompromising off the pitch as he is on it. His no-nonsense style has won him admiration and respect in all corners of the football world. At 33, not only is he a top-tier centre back, but his attitude is also second to none.

After Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Germany, Van Dijk didn't mince words about Matthijs de Ligt's role in conceding goals, saying, "This is football. You have to learn from this." It was a candid take, typical of Van Dijk's straight-talking approach.

His directness was also on display after Liverpool's thrilling 4-3 victory against Red Bull Salzburg in 2019. When Jan Age Fjortoft attempted to steer a post-match interview towards Erling Haaland's performance, Van Dijk cut it short, underscoring the team's win over individual narratives.

Recounting the incident on the Blood Red podcast, Fjortoft revealed: "After the game, I interviewed Van Dijk... and I said 'I have to ask you about the Norwegian, Erling Haland' and he just said: 'Well, we won the game'. So I said 'Yes, but what do you think about him?'

"Van Dijk said: 'I didn't see a lot of him' and he was a bit angry because there were some mistakes made and I said 'It's a good sign for a striker when a defender says he didn't see him! ' - and then he just went away."

Such unwavering determination is a hallmark of Van Dijk's career. He has never been one to entertain empty talk or excuse his team or teammates' shortcomings, as demonstrated by his response to the Netherlands' loss to Austria at Euro 2024.

Not one to sugar-coat the situation, he stated: "It was just a bad evening. We are all responsible, it shouldn't happen, but it did and that's bad."

Van Dijk is evidently someone who sets high standards for himself and those around him. In an interview with Liverpool's official website after being named club captain last summer, he emphasized the importance of maintaining standards and attributed the team's success to their collective work ethic and discipline.

These high standards were on display when Liverpool clinched the Premier League title for the first time in 2020. Their crowning moment was almost derailed due to the global outbreak of Covid-19, which briefly paused Premier League football, leading some to call for the season to be restarted.

After finally lifting the trophy when football resumed, a steadfast Van Dijk couldn't conceal his satisfaction at silencing Liverpool's critics. "No one can say anything now," he declared to Sky Sports defiantly.

"We had a few games where we should have done better, but we shouldn't focus on that. We've had a fantastic season. We only lost twice, so like I said, no one can say anything about us. We are well-deserving champions. We won by a mile."