Virgil Van Dijk Prefers Team Titles to Personal Accolades

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The Dutch defender is in the hunt for the Ballon D’Or, but he would take team trophies over individual glory

Virgil van Dijk is pretty good at this whole playing center half thing. His stellar play has not gone unnoticed outside of Liverpool, either. The imposing Dutch defender has been racking up accolades since he joined Liverpool from Southampton a year and a half ago.

“In the Premier League we have a lot of good defenders, especially this season Van Dijk was on fire” said former Chelsea player Eden Hazard in a recent interview. “He’s really good. He’s strong. I remember we played Liverpool away and I was striker, and I tried to jump against him but fell. No chance.”

The accolades translated into the PFA Player of the Year award for Van Dijk, but the defender says it’s not personal accolades he’s interested in.

“To get the PFA Player of the Year is a fantastic honour, it’s the highest honour you can get because it’s voted for by your fellow peers” said the Dutch Goliath during an interview with LFCTV. “I said it back then as well, I would trade it for the Champions League. Luckily, I didn’t have to.”

When asked about his inclusion as a favorite for the Ballon D’Or, van Dijk takes a similarly measured approach.

“It’s an honour if people are talking about it, but what can I do” said van Dijk. “I can’t deny that I’ve had a pretty good season last year, so the only thing I can do now is just focus on the new season, getting fit, stay fit and hopefully get an even better season than I had last year.”

Here’s hoping for a repeat of the imperious form, Big Virg. It’s a joy when we watch you defend, and we watch you score.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com