Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic, says Liverpool stars former boss Pieter Huistra

Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic, says Liverpool stars former boss Pieter Huistra
Virgil van Dijk is better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic ever was, according to the Liverpool stars former manager.The Dutchman has been widely praised for helping the Reds wina sixth European Cup in his first full season at Anfield.Getty4

Virgil van Dijk and co beat Tottenham 2-0 in the Champions League final earlier this month

Fans go wild as Liverpool celebrate their Champions League victory with bus parade Van Dijks form, since completing a 75million move from Southampton in January 2018, has led to comparisons with Vidic, who won five Premier League titles with United during a hugely successful eight-year spell in England.But Pieter Huistra, who gave Van Dijk his senior debut with Dutch club Groningen in 2011, thinks the defender has more to his game than Vidic.He told talkSPORT.com: Im bias anyway, so I would choose Virgil. He has more, he has a little bit more.Vidic, of course, without any doubt was a very good player, he played in a top team.In my view, Virgil has everything. He has the flair, he has the technique, he has the passing, he has the defensive leadership, he has the personality that catches peoples eye.I just admire the strengths of certain players.Getty4

Nemanja Vidic is regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever defenders

There have been very good defenders in the Premier League and when you [Van Dijk] are talked about in that group of players then its a good honour.Van Dijk featured in Willem IIs youth teams before Huistra took him to Groningen in 2010.After starring in Groningen’s reserve team, he made his senior debut at the back-end of the 2010/11 season.Former Rangers winger Huistra said: When he went to Groningen he left his home, so for him it was a big step at that time, two-and-a-half hours away from his mother, who he’s close to.

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In Groningen he was living with another player. For somebody at 18, 19 its a big step, he had to learn to cook for himself and look after himself.He came into a new environment, he had to get used to how things work. He picked it up and in the reserve team, the coaches helped him a lot.I saw him play every week in the reserves, everyone could see that he would become a first-team player.He trained with the first-team for the last two months of the season and came on as a substitute and then started a few games. It was a natural progression. He worked hard and became a better footballer.Getty4

Virgil van Dijk starred for Groningen at a young age

We saw that he had some good qualities on the ball; his passing and his heading was already very good.“His positioning as a defender had to improve, but he was willing to learn and listen and he improved quickly. He wanted to become better so that’s always a good characteristic.Huistra, now assistant manager at Pakhtakor Tashkent FK in Uzbekistan, left Groningen in 2012 – and Van Dijk departed a year later to join Celtic.Getty4

Pieter Huistra gave Virgil van Dijk his senior debut in football

Impressive spells with the Hoops and Southampton saw Van Dijk become the worlds most expensive defender when he joined the Reds.He was part of a defence that conceded just 22 league goals last season and his heroics in Liverpools Champions League triumph over Tottenham have made him a contender for this years Ballon dOr.Van Dijk, who will be competing against world superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the award, could become just the fourth defender to win the prestigious prize.Huistra, 52, added: Hes one of the contenders. There are always other players as well, but he should certainly be considered. A defender is often overlooked, but defending is a very important part of football. Attacking always starts from the defenders. Virgil is important in that, he can direct from the back.I always said to my central defenders, youre always the playmakers of the team, you decide how the attack will start.So if you have a defender like Virgil, who is quick and direct and has a good diagonal pass or a pass in behind the opposition, its very effective and important.

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Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend Nemanja

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And in a lighthearted response to a question about the treatment Liverpool colossus van Dijk was subjected to, he recalled his first game in charge of the national team. "I'm happier they're booing the opposition now than booing our players when we started," said Southgate at this afternoon's press conference. "We're making progress.
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Elite The 27-year-old, who has been compared to Vidic, helped the Reds win a sixth European Cup last season and is in the running for the Ballon d'Or Virgil van Dijk is better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic ever was, according to the Liverpool star's former manager.
Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend | True
trueobserver.com/news/2019/06/12/virgil-van-dijk-better-than-manchester-united-legend-nemanja-vidic-says-liverpool-star-s-former-boss-pieter-h
Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic, says Liverpool star's former boss Pieter H Posted on:June 12, 2019 The 27-year-old, who has been compared to Vidic, helped the Reds win a sixth European Cup last season and is in the running for the Ballon d'Or
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Virgil van Dijk is better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic ever was, according to the Liverpool star's former manager. The Dutchman has been widely praised for helping the Reds win a sixth European Cup in his first full season at Anfield. Getty 4 Virgil van Dijk and co beat Tottenham 2-0 in the Champions League…
Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend Nemanja

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Virgil van Dijk is better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic ever was, according to the Liverpool star's former manager. The Dutchman has been widely praised for helping the Reds win a
Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend Nemanja

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Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic, says Liverpool star's former boss Pieter H 6 mins ago Every Premier League club's last five opening day fixtures in the top-flight
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Virgil van Dijk better than Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic, says Liverpool star's former boss Pieter H; Wales under Ryan Giggs have gone backwards, claims Dean Saunders on talkSPORT; Tyson Fury shocks breakfast TV viewers as he strips off during live interview
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