Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes retired professional players need to consider the ‘repercussions’ of their criticism of younger players in the modern game.
Van Dijk, 34, has been vocal on the subject of criticism from pundits this season, as the Premier League champions have endured a second-season slump under head coach Arne Slot.
The Dutchman was embroiled in a battle of words with Wayne Rooney, and labelled the criticism directed at him by former Manchester United captain ‘lazy’.
And now he has spoken on the subject again with another ex-Red Devil skipper, Gary Neville, ahead of Liverpool’s crunch match with Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
‘For me personally, I can deal with it, but I’m a bit worried for the next generation,’ he told Neville on Sky Sports. ‘I feel like the ex-top players have a responsibility to the new generation.
‘Criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game, and I think it should stay that way. But sometimes criticism also goes into being clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for a mental side of players, and especially the younger generation, who are constantly on social media.’
Virgil van Dijk wants pundits to think of the mental health of young stars when they criticise
Van Dijk admitted that he tells younger players to try to stay off social media, but when ‘you’re getting bullied’ after a disappointing performance or receiving ‘bad criticism’, it’s hard for the younger stars to ignore.
And with media scrutiny getting ‘worse and worse’, the Reds skipper thinks now is the time for pundits who have played the game to support the ‘new generation’ when they take to the screen.
He added: ‘I feel like, especially the ex-pros, top players, who have been through everything as well, they have this responsibility of protecting a little bit of that side as well. That’s something maybe to look at.’
Liverpool’s defence of the Premier League title, won in Slot’s first season as manager, has been underwhelming.
The Reds sit 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, who they beat to the title last season by 10 points, and their defence, which has Van Dijk at the heart of it, has conceded 33 goals in 24 games.
Liverpool’s results and performances have led to pressure ramping up on Slot, with his side sitting a lowly sixth in the table.
Van Dijk said: ‘Criticism for the season we are having is well-deserved because of the way we have been playing at times, the way we have been losing games on the bounce, that’s not the standard we set, especially last year.
‘But you have criticism, and you have disrespect.’
And the Dutch international wants to remind everyone that ‘Liverpool is not a club of making rash decisions’ and believes that Slot should be given the opportunity to turn things around.
‘I still feel that it’s a process,’ he continued. ‘In my eyes, he deserves the respect and the chance to make sure that this process is going to end in a positive way.’
