‘At his age, I wasn’t as good as him’ – Liverpool skipper Virgil Van Dijk opens up on Ibrahima Konaté | OneFootball

Liverpool skipper Virgil Van Dijk (33) has given a wide-ranging interview to L’Equipe this Sunday, before lifting the Premier League trophy later this afternoon on the final day of the campaign. The Reds host FA Cup winners Crystal Palace today at Anfield. The Netherlands captain has spoken at length about his partner at the back: France international centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, who happens to turn 26 this Sunday.

“Ibou is a good friend and an excellent defender”, Van Dijk said. “He’s fast, strong and he wants to become a leader. He’s getting there because he’s improving. I think he’s had his best season since he arrived.” The former Paris FC and Sochaux defender joined Liverpool in 2021 in a €40m switch from RB Leipzig. Konaté featured 131 times for the Reds, with which he won four titles (the 2022 and 2024 Carabao Cups, the 2022 FA Cup, and the 2024-2025 Premier League).

Van Dijk has lauded Konaté for the way he has taken better care of his body, which would explain why the France international has sustained fewer injuries than before. “As your career progresses, you understand better how your body adapts to different situations. In any case, when I was his age, I wasn’t as good as him.” Van Dijk added that Konaté has many years in front of him to improve again. It remains to be seen whether he’ll still play in red in his prime years. Konaté’s contract is up for renewal as it expires next year.

When asked if Konaté was the best centre-back he ever played with, Van Dijk said that the Frenchman was “among the very best.” “I wouldn’t say he’s the best, because I played at Liverpool alongside Joe Gomez, with whom I also formed a great partnership at the back.” The England international was indeed a vital cog in Liverpool’s 2019-2020 title-winning Premier League campaign.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval