---
title: "Koeman urges Van Dijk to eradicate mistakes from his game"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/koeman-urges-van-dijk-to-eradicate-mistakes-from-his-game/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Osman"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2018-10-09T20:47:59Z"
modified: "2018-10-09T20:47:59Z"
---

# Koeman urges Van Dijk to eradicate mistakes from his game

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has called on Virgil van Dijk to eradicate the minor mistakes from his game.

As quoted by [the Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/virgil-van-dijk-slammed-holland-13392092), the Dutchman spoke out about the defender’s recent form and was quick to highlight that there is room for improvement despite his strong start to the season.

Van Dijk made a costly error in his national team’s recent 2-1 defeat to France earlier on in the year, as he allowed Olivier Giroud to ghost in and net in fine fashion.

This incident has remained firmly in Koeman’s mind, as he urged Van Dijk to become less laid back when defending.

> I told Virgil within 30 seconds of the end of the game against France what I thought. I know him so well – and that means I know where all his little faults are.

> Virgil has to improve. Not a lot. But sometimes he is a little too laid back. That needs to change. There are moments as a defender when you should be no more than three feet away from the striker you are marking.

![Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2018/10/1028371720.jpg)

Koeman worked alongside Van Dijk for a year at Southampton and enjoyed a strong relationship with the defender. This was then demonstrated on the international stage, as the manager made the 26-year-old his captain.

Former Everton boss Koeman also delivered his verdict on Van Dijk’s decision to haul Leroy Sane down in the closing stages of Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City at the weekend.

Although Van Dijk’s error was not punished, as Riyad Mahrez blazed his penalty over the bar, Koeman insisted that the defender has to improve and cut out his few faults.

> On Monday, when he arrived in our training camp in Zeist, he could see from the look on my face that I was thinking about the foul he made when Liverpool played Man City on Sunday.

> The tackle cost his team a penalty and Virgil realised that he had made the wrong decision. It will not affect his chances with me. He is still my main man, but I want him to get better.