Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk ends a reporter’s line of questioning stone dead after his cutting response to controversies in the Champions League.
As is always the case after a big game, the media took to examining the various big decisions in the aftermath of Liverpool winning the Champions League semi-final.
Inevitably they chose the ones that affected Roma; a foul from Loris Karius on Edin Dzeko that was ruled out with a questionable offside; the ball hitting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s hand as he was making a block.
One reporter brought these controversial decisions to Virgil van Dijk in the post-match interviews. His response was as simple as it was beautiful: “Who cares?”
Reporter: Roma should have had two more penalties.
— Rousing The Kop (@RousingTheKop) May 3, 2018
Virgil van Dijk: Who cares?pic.twitter.com/MmNSaG9Gxy
The Dutch defender was having none of it. We would still be through even if these had gone the other way. He will not tolerate your nonsense or your attempts to put a downer on the best night of his career so far.
There was no mention of the two penalties that Sadio Mane could have had in the first half. Nor reference to the ridiculous handball decision in the first leg that allowed this match to be competitive at all. Just the typical pot-stirring we are used to after a Liverpool victory.
Van Dijk has been exceptional on this Champions League run. While the Reds let in six goals over the two semi-final legs they did not collapse. The Dutchman has been the difference between a defense that would regularly implode and one that will be playing in a Champions League final.
Next: All of Rafa Benitez' Liverpool signings ranked!
If Liverpool go on to win the Champions League in Kiev then the signing of van Dijk will be heralded as one of the most timely in Liverpool’s long history. Let’s hope we can listen to van DIjk slaying reporters on the Saturday 26th May with a European Cup winners medal around his neck.