Virgil van Dijk reaffirmed the "high standards" he holds himself to as the Liverpool defender refused to be drawn on a recent verbal barrage from fellow Dutchman Ruud Gullit.
The Reds were thrashed 5-2 by Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie last Tuesday - a humbling result which laid bare their glaring defensive frailties. Van Dijk, 31, was the subject of intense criticism from Netherlands legend Gullit for his approach throughout the match, which the hosts led 2-0 at Anfield before conceding five times without response.
The AC Milan and Chelsea hero likened Liverpool's No.4 to an ice-skater for the way he positioned his body while defending against the likes of Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema. The two superstar forwards each scored twice as Los Blancos put one foot in the quarter-finals.
"Van Dijk puts his hands behind his back like a speed-skater and he bends his knees like speed-skaters do," Gullit said. "His body is leaning forward. He kind of kneels down in his moves and only has his hands behind his back so he avoids a handball when the striker shoots. That, for me, is too easy - and it looks clumsy."
Van Dijk has not been his usual imperious self at the heart of Jurgen Klopp's defence this season, but he has still been one of Liverpool's better players. He suffered a hamstring injury against Brentford in early January and only recently returned to the starting line-up after recovering.
In the Premier League, the Reds have recorded three successive clean sheets, most recently in their 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday night. Van Dijk partnered Joel Matip at centre-back at Selhurst Park and was asked for his response to Gullit's comments after the stalemate in south London.
"I have nothing to say on that. I set high standards. People try to hold me to that so that's what I try to do," Van Dijk said of Gullit's scathing attack. "Coming back from the big injury and then being out for six weeks is tough so playing three games for 90 minutes is something I'm very proud of and have worked hard for."
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Van Dijk has made 27 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring twice, and he has not missed a minute of Liverpool's Champions League campaign. With Jordan Henderson and James Milner in and out of the team, the former Southampton centre-back has worn the captain's armband on many occasions.
Like each of his teammates, Van Dijk will need to produce the game of his life if Liverpool are to recover from three goals down and miraculously topple Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on 15 March. In the meantime, the Reds host Wolves and Manchester United before travelling to Bournemouth in the league.
