Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk rejects Wayne Rooney’s ‘lazy criticism’
“It doesn’t hurt me. Coming back to this player, he is obviously a legend, a great player of the game and a player who has inspired many people. “I can only say positive things but I think this comment is a bit of a lazy criticism.
“It’s easy to blame the other players but he knows we’re doing this together; we’re trying to help each of us get out of this situation. “When things were going well last year, you never hear about it. It’s what it is.
“[Pundits] I have to do this job. He has an idea and we have to deal with it. No hard feelings. I don’t take this personally.”
Liverpool are third in the Premier League and seven points behind leaders Arsenal, who have two important matches this week.
Slot’s team will host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday before visiting Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
“I’ve heard reports about it too [Slot] We are under pressure but I don’t think we play for a club that makes hasty decisions,” added Van Dijk.
“We all felt like we could get out of this situation. It’s not a guarantee, but together we can do it. As long as we believe, stay humble and keep working, we can do it, and we all have that feeling.”
