BREAKING: Joe Cole responds when asked if van Dijk is as good as Rio Ferdinand
Joe Cole has told Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel that Virgil van Dijk actually has a long way to go before he is considered as good as Ferdinand – and he needs to win multiple league titles with Liverpool.
Van Dijk is undoubtedly going to be remembered as one of the very best centre-backs the Premier League has seen. The Dutchman is almost certainly the best the division has had over the last decade.
His arrival was undoubtedly a pivotal moment in Liverpool’s recent history. His move from Southampton proved to be a game-changer for the Reds. And he has gone on to win every domestic honour with Jurgen Klopp’s side, including the Premier League title.
He is certainly going to go down as a Premier League great. And with that, he is now having to deal with comparisons with other legends from the competition’s past.
Cole – who played alongside Ferdinand for West Ham and England – was asked about which one was the better. It may not be a huge surprise to see him opt for Ferdinand. However, what is bemusing is how emphatic he was about the debate.
“Van Dijk’s got a long way to go before he gets close to Rio, and that is with the most respect to van Dijk, who I think is the best around at the moment. But he needs to win multiple league titles,” he told Ferdinand’s YouTube channel.
Van Dijk has a long way to go
What is strange is that no-one seems to have done more to prompt this debate than Ferdinand. In the video, he complains that the question is asked.
In fairness, Cole is the one happy to give Ferdinand the vote.
But to say van Dijk has a long way to go is just baffling. Ferdinand had one league title to his name before being paired with Nemanja Vidic.
The two players also won one Champions League title each, while Ferdinand never actually lifted the FA Cup.
Van Dijk has not been as impressive in more recent times. But to suggest that there is some great gulf between the two of them seems extremely unfair.
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