Virgil van Dijk did something unexpected after Liverpool beat Real Madrid on Tuesday
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Rousing the Kop or go back to LFC Live.
Virgil van Dijk showed why he was the captain for more than one reason against Real Madrid.The Reds seem to be getting back to where everyone expected them to be after winning back-to-back games for the first time since September.First they got past Aston Villa, then they followed it up with an impressive performance in the Champions League against Madrid. Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
They also kept a clean sheet in both, with van Dijk playing a vital role in achieving this and showing why he is the captain for the club.He also showed why after the game too, with the Dutchman doing something unexpected that left many shocked.Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty ImagesVirgil van Dijk did the post-match interview so he could speak to Wayne RooneyOver the past few weeks, there has been a bit of a back and forth between van Dijk and Wayne Rooney, with the former Man United man heavily critical of the Dutchman.He referenced things like looking comfortable after signing a new contract and his body language making it look like he does not care, something van Dijk did not like one bit.And even though it was supposed to be Conor Bradley doing the interviews post-game, van Dijk offered to instead, with the Dutchman knowing this was his chance to confront Rooney in person.“We were actually expecting Conor Bradley to come to the desk at the end, but apparently Virgil said ‘no, I’m doing that,” Gabby Logan said on BBC Sport.“I think he wanted to have a word with Wayne, who had some things to say on his podcast, but there was a presence about him and a belief about him that personified the whole team.”READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano shares what Federico Chiesa wants to do at Liverpool ahead of the January transfer windowIn the end, van Dijk put Rooney in his place on live television, with this something that brought a lot of joy to Liverpool fans’ faces.Virgil van Dijk is a proper leaderAlthough this may seem small and perhaps even a little petty to some, it certainly shows just how much of a leader he is.The Liverpool captain stuck up for himself and his team when he really did not need to, showing how much he cares for the club.Leadership was one thing Rooney had questioned too, and this just shows that he is willing to do uncomfortable things just for his team, something proper leaders do.The fact he won the battle against an Ex-Man United player just makes matters even better too, with this small detail something Liverpool fans will absolutely love.