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Jurgen Klopp has strongly rebuked former Netherlands forward Rafael van der Vaart following a series of provocative comments aimed at Virgil van Dijk.

The Netherlands registered an emphatic 5-1 victory over Sweden on Saturday, after beginning their campaign with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Japan. Despite the commanding win, Van der Vaart was quick to criticise Van Dijk’s performance — remarks that did not sit well with the defender’s former manager at Liverpool.

Klopp, known for his passionate defence of his players, stepped in once again to shield one of his former stars from media scrutiny. The German manager, who concluded his tenure at Anfield two years ago, has continued to show unwavering support for those who played under him. Late last year, he had similarly come to the defence of Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian forward was criticised for comments made in a high-profile interview.

Van der Vaart had compared Van Dijk’s movement to that of a Boeing 747 aircraft, questioning the defender’s agility. Speaking about the Netherlands captain’s pace, Van der Vaart stated, “I have to be honest: I was quite shocked by Van Dijk. I thought, ‘that doesn’t look good.’ Especially while turning... a bit like a Boeing 747 turning. I hope he starts turning a bit faster during the tournament.”

Klopp, however, dismissed these remarks outright, labelling the former playmaker’s opinions as “not worth mentioning.” The German added, “If he ever says something positive about any player at some point, then I’ll be happy to take him seriously again.”

Continuing his criticism of the ex-Netherlands international, Klopp commented, “You get the feeling he sees something, and then it has to be expressed in some flowery way. And then he’s completely against it. But that way, it’s really not important.”

Although Klopp has been away from Liverpool for two years now, his affection for the club and the players he once managed clearly remains intact. His spirited defence of Van Dijk once again underscores his enduring loyalty and protective nature towards his former squad.