Van Dijk might be better than me, claims Stam
Jaap Stam admits Virgil van Dijk may be a more formidable centre-back than he was in his prime.
The Dutchman was one of the most dominant defenders of his generation, proving to be a rock for the likes of the Netherlands, Manchester United and AC Milan.
At his peak, there arguably wasn’t a better centre-back in the world, much like Van Dijk currently.
Speaking to Stadium Astro, Stam refused to rule out the idea of the Liverpool superstar being better than him, hailing his growth as a player:
Yeah, maybe even better, I don’t know.
But Virgil is a presence. That’s very important as a football player if you want to play in the highest leagues and the biggest clubs.
Positioning yourself is very important. In possession and also out of possession because it helps you a lot.
You get times to do things and he’s doing a fantastic job.
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Van Dijk may only have been at the very top of his game for a couple of years, but the praise he is earning is fully merited.
The 28-year-old has found a staggering level of form in a Reds shirt, transforming the team in the process.
Should he continue in the same vein for several more years, he will go down as one of the best centre-backs of all time.
That may sound like hyperbole, but Van Dijk really is that good.