Virgil van Dijk has sent a message of advice to Jeremy Jacquet following Reds win at Bournemouth
Virgil van Dijk has urged Jeremy Jacquet to remain calm, keep working and continue learning after the young defender produced another impressive performance for Liverpool in their 1–0 victory over Bournemouth.
Jacquet has made a strong start to life at Anfield, forming a developing centre-back partnership with Van Dijk and helping the Reds record their third consecutive Premier League clean sheet. The 21-year-old was also voted Liverpool’s Player of the Match by supporters following the win at the Vitality Stadium.
Van Dijk praises Jacquet's start
Van Dijk was pleased with what he has seen from his new defensive partner but was keen to ensure that the praise does not create unnecessary pressure.
The Liverpool captain described Jacquet's start as excellent while emphasising that the season is still in its early stages.
“There is obviously a lot of praise and rightly so, but I know how it works when you play a game not at the standards you have set,” Van Dijk said. He added that Jacquet should “keep working and keep learning” and continue to stay calm.
The message reflects Van Dijk's experience as a senior member of Liverpool's defence. Rather than allowing the attention surrounding Jacquet's performances to become a distraction, the captain has encouraged the youngster to focus on his development and maintain the standards he has established.
A partnership still developing
Van Dijk also acknowledged that his partnership with Jacquet remains a work in progress.
The pair have started several matches together this season, and the captain believes playing competitive games together will help them understand each other's movements and reactions more naturally.
"It [the partnership] is still a work in progress. There are still things we can improve but you learn by playing games. I said at the start that you experience things in games and see how each other react to certain moments, and then you adapt to that," Van Dijk explained, noting that both defenders can continue adapting to different situations as their partnership develops.
He continued: "So far, it is good. He is 21 years old and very promising, but it is up to him to keep working hard and staying calm. It's a big credit to him how he started his Liverpool career, but we are in September. Hopefully there are years of his Liverpool career left."
That development has already provided Liverpool with a solid foundation. The Reds' latest clean sheet at Bournemouth followed shutouts against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, underlining the defensive improvement seen during the opening weeks of the campaign.
Jacquet's impressive beginning
The French defender arrived at Liverpool from Rennes during the summer and has quickly established himself as an important part of Iraola's defensive plans.
His performance against Bournemouth earned recognition from Reds' supporters, who selected him as their Player of the Match after another composed display.
Van Dijk added: "So far, it is good. He is 21 years old and very promising, but it is up to him to keep working hard and staying calm. It's a big credit to him how he started his Liverpool career, but we are in September. Hopefully there are years of his Liverpool career left."
No comments:
Post a Comment