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Virgil van Dijk says there is “still more to come†from him despite being a stunning success story at Liverpool on the back of a £75 million ($95m) transfer.
Eyebrows were raised when the Reds made the Dutchman the most expensive defender in world football.
A big-money deal took him to Anfield from Southampton during the winter transfer window of 2018.
His first season on Merseyside delivered a Champions League final spot, while the second has him heading back to that stage after falling agonisingly short in a Premier League title bid.
Van Dijk has also been named PFA Player of the Year and cemented a standing among the global elite.
He could be considered to have exceeded expectations, but the Netherlands international says he can get even better, telling talkSPORT: “I think I have improved on every aspect of my game. I’ve had a lot of experience over the last year.
“I think as a central defender you grow as a player.
“There’s still more to come. There’s always things to improve, you can’t be satisfied with what you have.
“You have to keep working. I will definitely look at it when I’m having my holiday.â€
Van Dijk added on how he deals with any criticism that comes his way: “I know exactly when I make a mistake and need to do something better.
“You have pundits and fans from other teams who will say loads of things and it goes past me. That’s life.
“Football is a game. It’s something I love to do. But there are so many things in life that are more important.
“If I keep that in mind, I’m fine. I’ve learned that over the years. I’m turning 28 in the summer. If it doesn’t work this year, I go again next year.â€
Working with Jurgen Klopp has helped to bring the best out of Van Dijk, with the commanding centre-half crediting his manager with sparking a drive for continuous improvement.
“I have a good relationship with him because he just tells you the truth and I will tell him the truth. That’s something I really appreciate,†Van Dijk said of the German tactician.
“Sometimes when there is a mistake I did, that no one else sees, he will tell me.
“For example, away at Bayern Munich, they scored the equaliser from a ball behind Andy Robertson.
“Normally, I’m there to protect him, but I didn’t. It looked like Andy Robertson was in trouble, so they scored and nobody said it was me. But at half-time, the manager came in and shouted at me.
“I think he’s definitely up there with the best coaches I’ve had, [Ronald] Koeman was also a very important factor in my career and still is.â€
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