Jurgen Klopp has hit out at controversial pundit Rafael van der Vaart, defending his former player Virgil van Dijk.
Van der Vaart has been grabbing headlines for his hot takes for some time and has continued to do so during the World Cup.
The 43-year-old, who played for the likes of Real Madrid, Tottenham and Ajax, hit out at Van Dijk after Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan in their World Cup opener.
‘I must honestly say that I was a bit shocked by Van Dijk,’ the Dutchman said of his compatriot. ‘That turning… It was a bit of a Boeing 747. I hope he will run a little faster during the tournament.’
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Klopp has also been on punditry duty during the World Cup and after Netherlands roared to winning ways with a 5-1 battering of Sweden, the former Liverpool boss defended his old captain.
‘I don’t know if it’s worth naming Rafael van der Vaart at all’, Klopp said. ‘But if he ever says something positive about a player, I’m willing to take him seriously again.’
‘You have the feeling that he sees something, which then has to be expressed in a flowery way and then he goes against it. But it’s not that important.’
Van der Vaart has done much worse than criticise Van Dijk’s turning speed this summer, making an offensive ‘joke’ about Japan’s players after the draw with Netherlands.
The former midfielder suggested Micky van de Ven may have been confused during Daichi Kamada’s equaliser as Japan’s players ‘look alive’.
‘The perfect corner is really very difficult to defend,’ Van der Vaart said on NOS.
‘This one came with the right speed, just over the five-yard line. With a bit of luck it would have gone in, but the corner was amazing.
‘They [the Japanese players] do look alike, of course, maybe he [Van de Ven] thought that… That’s a joke, of course. I hardly dare say anything.’
He later issued an apology, which read: ‘I oppose racism in all its forms and have respect for people of every background, ethnicity, and culture. I understand that some people may have found my words offensive or hurtful. I sincerely regret that.’