Virgil van Dijk singles out Ian Wright when asked what annoys him about pundits
The Dutchman has been one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League since he arrived in the Premier League in 2015-16 and told Rio Ferdinand he has learned to ignore pundits as he has got older
by Oli Gamp · The MirrorLiverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has claimed Ian Wright is one of football's most "respectful" pundits and believes he would be like the ex-Match of the Day star if he tried his luck at TV work.
The Dutchman has been one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League since he arrived in the Premier League in 2015-16 with Southampton, going on to establish himself as a world class defender with Liverpool.
Van Dijk was appearing on the Rio Ferdinand presents podcast, with the ex-United defender quizzing him on how he coped in the game mentally - using pundits as an example of something that would bother him when he was a player.
Ferdinand said: "Do you guys listen to what we say, the pundits? I remember when I played, pundits got on my nerves. Do we get on your nerves? Be honest, man. I won't take anything to heart, but pundits used to get on my nerves, man."
Van Dijk replied that he had learned to block out the noise - using Wright as an example of the "respectful" pundit he would be.
"I think what stands out a little bit is that you say you always get on your nerves with pundits, and you became a pundit yourself, he replied. "I can't believe that, because I don't think I would be a pundit. Because I would just be a bit like Ian Wright, I think. A bit more respectful, a bit more just showing more love."
Wright, who played for Arsenal between 1991 and 1998, retired in 2000 and has become one of English football's most recogisable and popular pundits, having worked for the BBC, BT Sport - now known as TNT Sports - and ITV.
Van Dijk went on to say that pundits criticism was much more difficult to hear when you're an younger player.
"I know as a pundit sometimes you have to be a bit more controversial, you have to be hard on certain things, otherwise it gets boring and stuff, but it's part of the business, and we all know that." He added: "It is what it is, and I'm fine with it, because you can't change it."
Van Dijk - who has been an ever-present for Arne Slot in the league this season - also opened the door to being a manager in the interview.
The ex-Celtic star is heading towards the latter stages of his career with his Liverpool deal expiring next summer - and while he still continues to play at the top level, he said he had not fully ruled out becoming a coach.
“I said no, but that's also because coming to this hectic, busy, on-it life that my family is sacrificing a lot, my wife and my kid," he said. "To then have a year off or two years off and then going back into it... I don't think I see it happening, but never say never."
Listen to the full Rio Meets Virgil interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, presented by Qatar Airways.
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