Liverpool defender, Virgil van Dijk has said street football played vital part in his tackle skills against opponents.
The Dutch defender ended the 2018-19 campaign with a stunning stat to his name and while speaking on his youthful experiences told Unisport:
“I have had the benefit of a lot of one-v-ones by playing a lot on the streets.
“I played in a lot of five-a-side games when I was younger and I loved to attack in those days as well, so you got a bit of a feeling how attackers might think in certain situations.
“Obviously that comes with experience in my professional career too, but I think if you want to progress as a defender or an attacker then just keep playing in the streets with your friends.”
The Netherlands International is well on the way to becoming a Liverpool legend just 18 months into his career at Anfield.
He is a European Cup winner and the reigning PFA Player of the Year, but the 27-year-old insists there is no chance of him getting swept up in the hype which surrounds him.
“The best advice I’ve got is to stay humble, keep working hard and enjoy every bit of the way because before you know it, it is all going to be over and you do not want to have any regrets,”
“That is the most important thing I would tell young players now because that is the most important thing that is staying in my mind,Van Dijk added.
