The role of a defender has changed in recent years, Virgil van Dijk notes. In the book Thou Shall Not Pass: The Anatomy of Football’s Center-Half, in which author Leo Moynihan highlights the functioning of a center-back in football, Van Dijk says that ‘more is expected from defenders’. They have been given more tasks over the years: defenders must now also help in the build-up and be able to play out under pressure from opponents, says the stopper of Liverpool and the Dutch national team.
“The position is much more important today than before”, says Van Dijk, who is currently recovering from a serious cruciate ligament injury and has to pass the European Championship. “Certainly for teams that like to be in possession of the ball, it is very important to be able to play from behind. The big clubs are looking for players who are comfortable on the ball, also in their own penalty area and around it. This is very useful when you are under pressure. In the past, center-backs were expected to be less involved in the game, simply giving the ball to the midfielders and then making sure that the organization was good in the back to avoid goals against, but now everyone is involved in the game. “
“You still have to perform the same tasks, but a lot more is required of defenders. The back positions have also changed. The backs of our team are almost wingers, but they also have to defend”, Van Dijk refers to Liverpool. “Football has evolved and I enjoy it. I am a player who likes to be on the ball and I hope to take decisions on the ball that will help the team move forward, both defensively and offensively.” Romantics sometimes fondly think back to a time when defenders were mainly known as rough bolsters, who relied on their mean tackles instead of their footballing qualities. Is that time over? “Firstly, there are now a hundred cameras aimed at us!”, Says Van Dijk with a wink. “Personally, I don’t like to hurt others. I just want to play football and win fair. That’s who I am. I’m not one to try to win in other ways.”
“Some think I make it look easy, but believe me, every game is tough,” added the 2018/19 Champions League winner. “We play against physically strong strikers from the world top. I never have the feeling that it is easy. But maybe I want my opponent to think that. Look at Roger Federer: it seems as if he barely sweats while playing tennis. That must be mental. are very tough on his opponent, because he feels that Federer doesn’t even have to try his best. Sometimes I try to get into my opponent’s head. Not by talking to him or kicking him, but by kicking him. make him think that he really has to play better if he wants to score today. You have to have faith in your own qualities, otherwise everyone will walk all over you. You don’t have to kick or swear: there are other ways to win a match. “
Related
More sports news