Klopp speaks out on Van Dijk row as tension reaches new heights

Jurgen Klopp has jumped to the defence of Virgil van Dijk following his former player's row with the Dutch media. The ex-Liverpool manager and the current Reds defender are set to go head-to-head when the Netherlands host Germany in the Nations League.

Ahead of the game, Van Dijk clashed with the Dutch media as the fallout from the Netherlands' World Cup elimination to Morocco continued. In a spiky press conference, Van Dijk said it was "utter nonsense" he had been involved in any tactical shifts which led to their last-16 exit.

He told one reporter: "One of your colleagues also said, of course, that it was my idea to switch to playing with a back five. That is utter nonsense. The fact is, we simply failed at the World Cup; those are the hard facts.

"We didn't play a good World Cup. It's not about me. You perform together; you’re a team. Your claim that I destroyed Dutch football after the World Cup – that sort of thing is completely baseless."

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Klopp, who is preparing to take charge of Germany for the first time, heard about the feisty exchange and feels Van Dijk has been unfairly singled out for criticism. He said: "I think you yourselves know that you are quite critical. Virgil should tell you that.

"Our German journalists are pretty good too [at being critical], but you might not even be that much worse. I haven't really followed the Dutch press, but I assume you weren't happy with the elimination.

"Then the captain gets more criticism too. Virgil has had a lot of great moments in his career and also a few lesser ones. Because he is not only physically present, but normally also because of his performances, I can imagine that he gets singled out a bit."

Van Dijk, 35, could win his 100th cap in the current international break if he plays in all four of the Netherlands' Nations League matches against Germany, Greece and Serbia (twice). He admits he considered his international future after the World Cup but quickly resolved to continue after speaking with new boss Xavi.

He said: "I needed a holiday with my family and then an important meeting with the national coach: After 10 seconds it was already clear that I would continue.

"What he said? That I am Virgil van Dijk. It is about trust, appreciation, how important you are for the team. Physically, there is - and was - no doubt but you also want to feel appreciation and pleasure."

The Netherlands and Germany, who meet in Amsterdam on Friday night, are in Group A2 with Serbia and Greece. The top two sides in each group advance to the quarter-finals in the spring.