Verbal clash between Van Dijk and a journalist in the conference room: "You have spread nonsense"

The Netherlands were eliminated by Morocco in the World Cup, in the round of 16. A wound that is still open for the "Tulips", who, on the occasion of their debut tomorrow, Thursday, September 24, in the Nations League against Germany, faced the journalists. As if something was still hanging in the air, especially between some journalists and captain Virgil Van Dijk. The latter got involved in a debate with Noa Vahle and then with Maarten Wijffels, Martijn Krabbendam and Valentijn Driessen during the press conference on the eve of the match. At the center of the discussion was the game plan used against Morocco.

And so, after some not-so-friendly exchanges with Wijffels and Krabbendam, it was Driessen's turn, who harshly addressed the defender: "You're not exactly very talkative, you're a bit rude". Van Dijk explains that his reaction came because of what he had heard said both today and during the World Cup: "You're giving very short and harsh answers". At this point Van Dijk seems to have lost his patience: "What is the question you want to ask me?" says the Dutch captain, after which comes the journalist's response: "Well, I... I have the impression that you're not behaving as usual". Indeed, for Van Dijk today was a kind of final confrontation, revolted by what he had heard after the World Cup.

The debate continues amidst general astonishment. The Dutch head of communications and media relations tried to calm the situation, trying to close the discussion, but Van Dijk continued: “I have never had problems with the press, but when nonsense is spread, I do”. The journalist in question tries to answer: “You can very well oppose the person who spreads that nonsense, right?”. At this point, Van Dijk tries to clarify the situation, in the cold silence of the conference room, which followed in surprise that rude and revolted attitude of the defender, who had every intention of immediately clarifying a few points, for the good of the national team, his teammates, the dressing room and in general the entire context of the “Tulips”.

“I didn’t like your comments that I ruined Dutch football after the World Cup, things like that are completely unfounded. And the fact that we decided to act in that way…”, referring to the claim that the decision to play against Morocco with a five-man defence came from the defender. “I think we’ll stop there, but it wasn’t me who decided, maybe another time,” Van Dijk concluded. “We’ll do it another time.” At this point, the Netherlands press office decided to intervene and end the conversation, directing questions towards other topics raised by the other media present. The fact is that Xavi’s adventure as Netherlands coach will also be a way of closing a cycle and starting over, trying to put behind us some issues that perhaps Van Dijk, as captain, wanted to resolve once and for all.