Liverpool
Vincent Kompany calls Virgil van Dijk the best defender of the Premier League era
Has Kompany gone a bit over the top with his praise?
Manchester City icon Vincent Kompany has named Virgil van Dijk as the best defender of the Premier League era, speaking ahead of his testimonial tonight.
As per Goal, Kompany was effusive in his praise of van Dijk, with whom he was battling for the Premier League title last season.
Speaking about the best defender of the Premier League era, Kompany said: “I would bring it back to Virgil van Dijk, he’s not been on the scene as long as Terry, Ferdinand who have been around for a long time but the signs he’s shown in the last few years.
“He’s shown if he had been around longer he’d have been at the top for a long time. The Liverpool before Van Dijk and after are a completely different setup. I’ll give him that one.”
(Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
TBR’s View – It’s bizarre that Kompany acknowledges van Dijk’s lack of longevity but chooses him anyway
Kompany has a reputation for being an intelligent man with a considered view on matters on and off the pitch but he’s made a rash call here.
The Belgian even acknowledges that van Dijk’s lack of longevity is an issue but then goes on to choose him over Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand despite the fact that pair won multiple titles.
Van Dijk is going the right way about becoming the best of the bunch but he hasn’t done it for long enough yet and he hasn’t won the league either. Kompany has got this one wrong, perhaps with a touch of recency bias.
