Marco van Basten does not believe that Virgil van Dijk can best defend opponents by looking them in the eye. The center defender of Liverpool and the Dutch told in a video item about his way of defending, with which he mainly tries to pay attention to body language. Van Basten mentions it in program Rondo from Ziggo Sports much more logical to look at your opponent’s moves.
“I’m just trying to look at your eyes. Because if someone is going to perform all kinds of technical tricks for you, you might think: what is happening? Body language betrays a lot. And that’s why I like to look at someone’s eyes,” Van Dijk said. The fragment is shown in the talk show, but Van Basten says he believes little of Van Dijk’s words.
Virgil reveals his secret: to look into the eyes of the opponent to estimate what he is going to do.@Marcovanbasten doesn’t believe it: ‘No, I don’t believe it. (…) He watches the movement!’#RONDO #ZiggoSport pic.twitter.com/zBFUrYVMT3
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 21, 2022
“If you’re a footballer, you look at a ball and its movements,” Van Basten responds. “But not in anyone’s eyes. Van Dijk can say that, but I don’t believe it. It makes sense that you look out of your eyes, otherwise you won’t see much. That you look, okay. But you don’t look at someone’s eyes, you look at their movements, where the ball is, what your opponent is going to do, the conditions on the field and where you stand. That’s logical right? Van Dijk is very strong and faster than most other players.”
Youri Mulder asks Van Basten why he does not believe that Van Dijk looks his opponents in the eye while defending. “I can’t imagine that,” replies the former striker. “I’ve never looked into anyone’s eyes when I was playing football. He’s very good, that’s something else. But I don’t think he looks into the eyes of his opponent. You look at someone’s physique, what he’s going to do, where the ball is and what’s going on around you.”