---
title: "Virgil van Dijk: ‘Ronald Koeman right to be critical of me’"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/virgil-van-dijk-ronald-koeman-right-to-be-critical-of-me/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Articles"
published: "2018-10-13T12:01:22Z"
modified: "2018-10-13T12:18:09Z"
---

# Virgil van Dijk: ‘Ronald Koeman right to be critical of me’

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has responded to Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, who criticised the central defender following his penalty concession against Manchester City, [FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/koeman-right-be-critical-man-city-penalty-concession-van-dijk) report.

Koeman, who named van Dijk as captain of the national side, admitted that the former Southampton man is “sometimes a little too laid back” and called for the towering defender “to improve”, following the Reds’ 0-0 draw with Premier League champions Manchester City, where van Dijk conceded a late penalty following a clumsy challenge on Leroy Sane.

![Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2018/10/1047168998-1.jpg)

Despite Koeman’s public criticism of him, van Dijk has responded to his national manager, claiming the former Everton boss was right to say what he did.

Talking to the media ahead of Netherlands’ UEFA Nations League fixture against Germany, van Dijk, who worked with Koeman at Southampton, said:

> He’s not strict. He’s well within his right \[to say that\]. He has every right to be critical. He wants to make us better.
>
> We talked about the penalty kick against City when I arrived in Zeist on Monday.

van Dijk is expected to remain as captain for the match against Germany, with Netherlands looking to get their first points in the group following an opening defeat to World Cup champions France.