Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk defends his challenge on Napoli forward Dries Mertens - “I would never go in to hurt him”.
The Dutch defender was booked in the first half for a challenge on his Belgian opponent, as while he did win the ball he hit Mertens on the shin with his studs up.
Carlo Ancelotti felt it “could’ve been a red card”, but the defender insists there was no malice.
“I don't think it was a bad challenge at all,” Van Dijk told ESPN.
“Unfortunately I touched him, but I would never go in to hurt him or anything like that. I had the ball and obviously the wet pitch you slide through and I touched him but that’s football.
“Unfortunately I’m suspended now for the first game [of the knock-out stages]. I heard it after the game so I was a bit disappointed about that, but we have plenty of quality players to fill my gap.”
Ahmedsparrow
218
For all the people who are commenting on behalf of Ramos count all the red cards he have got before comparing anything... Ramos is the all time top getter of red cards full stop and that’s it you guys can’t say anything more the stats speaks for itself
Bandiken
204
When Ramos did the same thing, he was considered a bully but when Van Djik does it it's not intentional, come on football be just.