Jurgen Klopp has praised the attributes of Virgil van Dijk after the Liverpool defender was named as UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.
The Dutch defender was rewarded for his imperious performances as Liverpool were crowned champions of Europe last season, the 28-year-old being named Man of the Match in June’s Champions League final win over Tottenham.
The award is the latest recognition for Van Dijk, who became the first defender in over a decade to be named as the PFA Player’s Player of the Year last season.
Liverpool boss Klopp has hailed the centre-back following his latest award, praising Van Dijk’s ability to improve the players around him.
“I love Virgil van Dijk,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
“Capacity to improve other players is what good players have. If you have a physically strong, very, very fast, technically good centre-half next to you, whoever plays next to him will benefit.
“I expected him to be a world class centre-half that’s why we paid what we paid.”
Van Dijk wins Uefa Men’s Player of the Year award ahead of Messi
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