{"id":1098846,"date":"2019-07-24T14:18:43","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T13:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1098846"},"modified":"2019-07-24T14:18:43","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T13:18:43","slug":"van-dijk-liverpool-trophies-ballon-dor","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/van-dijk-liverpool-trophies-ballon-dor\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool trophies more important than Ballon d’Or"},"content":{"rendered":"

Virgil van Dijk has said lifting more trophies with Liverpool is a “bigger goal” than winning the Ballon d’Or this year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The defender played a crucial role in Liverpool’s Champions League victory last season and is being tipped to join the small group of defenders who have won the Ballon d’Or.<\/p>\n

Could Van Dijk win the Ballon d’Or? Five key things to know…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  1. Van Dijk won the Champions League and helped Liverpool finish 2nd in the Premier League in 2018\/19.<\/li>\n
  2. The Dutchman became the first defender to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year since John Terry in 2004\/05.<\/li>\n
  3. He is now one of the favourites to win the 2019 Ballon d’Or, which hasn’t been won by a defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.<\/li>\n
  4. Liverpool conceded just 22 goals in 38 Premier League games last season.<\/li>\n
  5. Van Dijk believes silverware with the Reds is more important than personal glory.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7317342-rodgers-has-helped-tick-the-boxes-for-maguire-s-manchester-move<\/p>\n

    Thanks to Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Liverpool finished last season with the best defence in the Premier League, conceding just 22 goals in 38 matches.<\/p>\n

    And while the Ballon d’Or looks like a possibility as a result of his performances, Van Dijk insists his priority is to win more silverware for Liverpool.<\/p>\n

    “If people are talking about it \u2013 you can’t say it doesn’t do you something,” Van Dijk told\u00a0Sky Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    “But it’s a subject we don’t have any influence on. I can’t change anything right now other than get fit, stay fit and that’s the situation.<\/p>\n

    “Winning something like that is a dream come true for every footballer in the world. If you don’t then you just get on with it and try to perform better than last year.<\/p>\n

    “It would be fantastic, and I would be very proud.<\/p>\n

    “But the main thing will be to focus on what we do all together and achieving the bigger goal \u2013 that’s getting silverware with the club.”<\/p>\n