“I saw some of the comments about Griezmann’s goal and I know I could have done better”

Van Dijk’s life changed in October 2020. Considered by many to be the best defender in the world, he suffered a serious injury to the ligaments in his right knee after a strong tackle by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. After nine months off, He has returned to a spectacular level and, in an interview with the Daily Mail, he confesses about his feelings. He assures that he does not need constant recognition, but he also believes that the level to which he has returned after such a significant injury has not been valued in its fair measure.

“Sometimes I felt a little underratedas if people act as if nothing had happened and everything was normal. It is not very normal, after the injury I had, to be able to play that number of games and the level that I had already reached, in my opinion.. Not that I’m insecure and need recognition all the time, not at all, but I was looking forward to coming back from an injury like that and playing the number of games I’ve played so far. Playing three games a week is quite good and should not be overlooked. And it was overlooked in my opinionsays the Dutchman.

Van Dijk specifically referred to the criticism received after a match against Atlético de Madrid, in the group stage of the last edition of the Champions League at the Wanda in October 2021. In that match, Liverpool, who would end up winning 2- 3, was two goals ahead on the scoreboard, but saw how Atlético equalized with Griezmann’s brace. The Frenchman’s second goal was especially painful for the ‘reds’ defender: “I saw some of the comments about Griezmann’s goal and I know I could have done better. In any game, there are times when you could have done better.”

And the doubts increased: “It was always what people said. ‘He’s not going to come back as well as he wanted’, but when you play a good game, it’s ‘He’s back to his best level’. There was never anything in between. Like this that those things were definitely in my head in some games. There are doubts in your head about whether you will come back the same. That’s normal. You think too much about everything. You are full of pain. You can not do anything“.