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Virgil van Dijk’s recent ACL injury has robbed Liverpool of much more than just their defensive prowess and penchant for high headers. His absence also deprives the LFC of its leader at the back, and that’s not an easy trait to replace. It takes a very insightful player to be able to read the game and take responsibility not only for his own positioning, but also for the positioning of the entire defensive unit.
in a post-match interview With Viaplay Fotball, Fabinho, who replaced van Dijk at the center of defense against Ajax tonight, revealed that he (with some insistence from Jürgen Klopp) took up this responsibility in Amsterdam.
“Tactically I have to always be prepared for long balls and try to organize the team,” Fabinho said. “It’s not easy as I have to do a little bit of what Virgil always does and talk to the team and try to be a leader. Of course I’m not Virgil, but I’ll do my best. “
Although he makes a living as a containment midfielder, Fabinho’s best earned him universal accolades for an outstanding performance that included an acrobatic punt from the goal line to preserve Liverpool’s 1-0 lead. Despite individual praise, what mattered most to the makeshift defender was that the Reds keep Ajax off the board.
“It is very important to me that the team keep a clean sheet for the confidence of the team.”
The Brazilian later revealed that it was Klopp who encouraged him to be the vocal leader of the defense in van Dijk’s absence.
“I try to do my best, of course the coach says I have to talk more with the team and organize it. Sometimes I use phrases like second ball or get ready, or I tell the team to push hard. I try to play this role as well and do my best. “
Fabinho also praised Van Dijk, specifically pointing out all the important things his Dutch teammate does, both on and off the field.
“Personally, when I learned that Virgil was away for a long time, it was a bit of a shock,” Fabinho said. “I think he is the best defender in the world at the moment and, above all, he is a leader in the team and in the dressing room. He always maintains a good mood and a good atmosphere and of course we will miss him. “
Virgil van Dijk is not a player whose physical or leadership skills can really be replaced. However, Fabinho’s performance tonight showed that much of the panic over who could occupy his huge shoes may have been premature. If Fabinho can take advantage of this performance, it will make dealing with the absence of Van Dijk’s injury a much easier task.
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