Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says former players who work as pundits have a responsibility to be careful with their comments about today’s footballers.
Van Dijk warned that some opinions are aimed at getting attention or clicks, without considering how they affect players’ mental health, especially younger footballers. While he said he can handle criticism himself, he is concerned about the impact on the next generation.
The Dutch defender has spoken about this issue before, including earlier this season when he called criticism of Liverpool’s leadership “lazy”. Recent comments from ex-players about current stars have also brought pundits’ behaviour under scrutiny.
Van Dijk believes criticism should be fair and responsible, not designed to provoke reactions.
