Virgil van Dijk insists the Liverpool dressing doesn’t listen to outside criticism.
It comes after former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney labelled Van Dijk’s movements in the lead up to PSG’s goal in their Champions League defeat on Tuesday as “lazy”.
Van Dijk, 33, has been outstanding this season for the Reds and, if team-mate Mo Salah wasn’t scoring for fun, he would have a chance to win the individual honours on offer. But it still doesn’t protect him from criticism after the defeat by PSG on Tuesday on penalties.
Van Dijk said: “Someone told me about this. I think at that particular moment I'm helping [Andy] Robertson, telling him to clear the outside, I take the inside. I'm even explaining now what I thought at that moment but if he thought it was lazy then he gave his opinion, that's it. Did you think it was lazy?”
Van Dijk’s performances this season have been far from lazy but the noise is just that to the Reds’ players ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final while they’re also 15 points clear in the Premier League title race.
“But listen, I think I said it to someone as well, there were so many challenges that were years ago for those players and obviously it's a challenge for the players nowadays that you have to deal with opinions here and there and it gets blown up all the time. But I think, looking at what I see in the dressing room, I think the boys are doing well in terms of keeping their heads down and focusing on the task ahead. That's the most important thing I want to see.
“Even in difficult times, you know, because no-one's going smooth sailing, especially if you're in the Premier League. If we get the reward for it at the end of the season then I'm sure Liverpool is going to be bouncing.”
Van Dijk also expects there to be news on his future before the end of the season, but he is still not sure if he will sign a new contract at the club. However, the Dutchman is not panicking and doesn’t want the doubts over where he will play next season to bring any anxiety as they cruise to the title and could defend the Carabao Cup on Sunday against Newcastle.
He said: “There are multiple factors and as long as I am calm to you guys then there is no need to panic, whatever may happen in the future. If I was worried you would see me playing a little bit worried and that is not the case.
“Maybe I will run this fully down and then there is still no news, I don't know. I don't know at this stage and I said that the other day (after PSG game). But I don't want to create any anxiety or anything like that, I just keep my head down and focus on hopefully winning the next 10 games and that is my full focus: to be there for the manager, the players, the fans.
“So let's see what it brings and I am sure by the end of the season there will be news. But what kind of news I am not sure."