Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is not the best central defender in Europe according to Man City boss Pep Guardiola who thinks Aymeric Laporte has the edge.
Liverpool center back Virgil van Dijk has been hoovering up awards and adulation this year but Man City manager Pep Guardiola says Aymeric Laporte is better than the Dutch star.
Prior to this weekend’s Premier League games Guardiola was talking about Laporte being called up to the France squad by Didier Deschamps.
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Surprisingly the young defender has yet to make his international debut despite his successful 18 month period at the Etihad.
While praising the French youngster he declared that Laporte is ” best left-sided centre-back in Europe right now”.
Ummm. Nope.
Virgil van Dijk plays on the left side of the Liverpool defense and is the consensus best defender in the world. Laporte is a great player, not knocking him, but there is only one defender who can take the title as the best center back in Europe (and the world).
The timing of the comments are no coincidence. Van Dijk was named both the Defender of the Year and Player of the Year by UEFA for last season’s Champions League winning Liverpool side.
Guardiola says Laporte is the best left-sided centre-back in Europe right now
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) August 30, 2019
The Dutchman beat out Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the top prize and is now the bookies favorites to pick up the Balon d’Or award at the end of the year.
Before Liverpool signed Virgil van Dijk it was uncertain if he would make the move to Anfield. During that time Laporte was rumored to be heading to Merseyside instead. I’m glad things worked out the way they did. Up the Reds!