9 months ago
172 Jan Åge Fjortoft has issued his verdict on the comments Virgil van Dijk has made about his Liverpool future following the announcement that Jurgen Klopp will leave at the end of the season.
The Liverpool boss seemed to bring the football world to a standstill last week. Klopp announced that this would be his final season at Anfield.
Of course, Liverpool fans will already be anxious about what comes next. They have seen what happens when a club makes the wrong appointment after a legendary manager steps aside. Some of their supporters, in particular, have also seen what happens when it goes right, too.
Virgil van Dijk criticised after comments on Liverpool future
But what may not help is if some of the key players in the squad also depart. Virgil van Dijk spoke following the news and suggested that he is unsure whether he will be involved once Klopp has moved on (as reported by BBC Sport).
The 32-year-old has 18 months left on his contract. So his situation will need resolving soon anyway. But to hear him speak so honestly about the door potentially being open to also go was surprising.
And speaking on ESPN, Fjortoft admitted that he was not at all a fan of the timing of the comments from van Dijk.
“I don’t think van Dijk did himself or Liverpool any favours. And I’m with Craig, I understand what he’s saying, but there are football stars that don’t say anything for months, and then three days after Klopp is leaving, you’re doing that interview. I thought van Dijk is honest, I would give him that. He is very honest. But did he have to do that now in terms of timing? He’s got 18 months left on his contract. Of course, he didn’t have to do that,” he said.
“But it’s hard to sit here and say that he shouldn’t be honest about the situation. But talk about reading the room, I think wait a bit. Wait another week or two, or do whatever.”
Next Reds boss faces a major dilemma when they arrive
The next Liverpool manager is in such a difficult position. Reds fans would love nothing more than for the club to somehow find their next Klopp. But that is nearly impossible.
The next manager would be wise to not make wholesale changes. Klopp has laid the foundations for another trophy-laden spell.
But there will also be a reluctance to try and copy everything Klopp did. With that, there may be some surprises over the players who move on.
Van Dijk was probably right to suggest that everything is on the table right now. But you can understand why some may have taken exception with him being so honest so soon after Klopp’s announcement.
The post 'He didn't have to do that': Pundit baffled by what Liverpool star has now said following Klopp announcement appeared first on TBR Football.
