Tim Sherwood has claimed that whilst Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk was playing in Scotland with Celtic, ‘no one wanted’ to sign the central defender.
Since his move to Anfield back in 2018, our No. 4 has become largely recognised by many as the best defender in the world and has won both the Champions League and Premier League amongst other trophies during his time on Merseyside.
“We are looking at a guy here in Virgil van Dijk,” Sherwood told Premier League Productions (via HITC).
“He played at Celtic. No one wanted to take him.
“Everyone was having a look, myself included because he was playing in an environment that was non-competitive. You couldn’t really judge him.
“Then he goes to Southampton. Then you think, ‘oh, we might have missed the boat here. He might be too expensive for us now’. He was proving that he could play in the Premier League.
“And Liverpool have done their homework, spoke to Jurgen Klopp, he said ‘this is the man I want’. And he has come in there with the personality which he has got. That helps. He is very humble. I think he has done absolutely brilliant.”
With no disrespect intended to the Scottish Premiership, it’s hard to argue against what the former Tottenham and Aston Villa boss is saying.
When the 30-year-old moved to the Premier League in 2015 it really made people take note of the Dutchman and realise how good of a player he really is.
The signing of him, alongside the addition of Alisson Becker from Roma, took Jurgen Klopp’s side to the next level and they’re two key figures in the squad that have made us the force we are today.
When the Netherlands captain was out injured last season with that horrific knee injury, it was clear how much we missed his presence in the side.
We’ve kept the second most clean sheets this season with 10 and that is largely due to VVD being back in the side and returning to his best form.
Hopefully, he can continue to be the rock at the back during the second half of the season as we challenge for four trophies.
Yea well look at Henrik Larsson
Do you know what, I sat behind the goals at Celtic Park and from the very start it was clear that Virgil was special. I really do not know how scouts missed this. If they had been watching Celtic or Scottish games week in week out they would have known this guy was an absolute diamond. I watched him against Barcelona in what was one of his first appearances and he strolled through the same. Sherwood is making excuses for his own failings.
Typical English snobbery, Henrik Larsson was written off cause he played in Scotland then went to Barca and Man utd. I’m a Celtic Fan and within 6-7 games we knew VVD was a Royles Royce of a player. I’m guessing these teams nowadays would not rate Kenny Dalglish back in the day cause he was playing in Scotland lol.
Tim Sherwood is as usual talking a load of old pony.
Van Dyke played in numerous European games for Celtic against some of the biggest names in European football, and showed what quality of player he was. If you have a bit of knowledge of football and football players you can spot class, no matter what league they play in. You can understand why Sherwood failed as a manager at Spurs & Villa.
The EPL isn’t in the top 5 leagues in Europe let alone the best. It is the one where the most money can be made by players.
People need to understand that the EPL is on any given week is 80% absolute muck. Scottish league. .. . blah, blah ,blah. crap. Some of these people have an absolute neck on them. Manchester City played Celtic twice in the Champions League and could only draw with Celtic as they ran riot in the EPL.
Brits need to get a grip of themselves and their EPL nonsense. The EPL is all money, and like i said 80% of the matches on any given week is absolute mince.
As usual another arrogant and disrespectful view of Scottish football from England.
Robertson, Van Dijk at Liverpool, Tierney at Arsenal and McGinn at Villa are just some examples of successful players in the Sky, BT, US, Arab, Far Eastern and Middle Eastern financed International Premier League from Scotland. Scottish clubs should stop selling players too cheaply to this bloated League.