Van Dijk feels at home in Paradise THE Celtic squad trained today at Lennoxtown ahead of Saturday’s trip to Easter Road. With everyone reporting back from international duty, the training centre was once again an extremely busy place. Virgil van Dijk wasn’t one of those who’d been away these past two weeks, and the Dutch defender welcomed the time to rest ahead of another busy schedule of games for the Hoops. It has been a busy couple of months, so the break has been good for me, he told the Celtic View. It has given me time off to clear my head, empty it and not think about football. I have given my body time to relax and switch off, so it´s good to have this rest. It’s only October but we have played so many games so far. Every week were playing two games so we´ve been very busy. It´s important to clear your head every so often and not think about football for a bit and this last week has given me that chance. Van Dijk´s ability to slot into the team has been impressive, forging what looks to be a solid partnership with Efe Ambrose in the centre of defence. And he admitted it has been just as pleasing off the pitch as it is on it now he has settled into his new surroundings. I have everything sorted out now - my flat, car, my girlfriend is settling in and my football is getting better,” he said. I had only been to Scotland once for an international game at Under-21 level, he added. I hadn’t been in the city but so far it looks good. The weather has also been good up until now, but I think it´s getting worse now. That´s not a problem for me, though, so I have had a good impression of Scotland. And in the dressing room, the players have also helped van Dijk adapt. Derk Boerrigter and the Dutch connection obviously helped, but it was the trip to Germany on pre-season which particularly aided the process. Everyone in the squad was very welcoming, van Dijk continued. There are some players who can help you with some things, and then others for other things. I´m not the kind of person who has a hard time settling in, but it was difficult at the start because I was also suffering with injuries. Germany helped because I had two weeks away with the squad and that helps you get to know each other. It was as important for me as it was for my new team-mates to get to know the real me. The injuries after that, though, was a negative part of pre season. It´s all good now, though, so I don’t want to look back. And with the injuries behind him, van Dijk has been in impressive form for the Champions. His strong and composed defensive performances have been coupled with the occasional burst forward on the break or at set-pieces. He has found it very different to the Dutch game, but also feels sometimes critics do it a disservice. I think the Scottish league is under-estimated. There are a lot of good players in it and it is a good league, he said. In Scotland it´s more physical, there are a lot more long balls, while in Holland they love to play in position and keep the ball. I can play in the Scottish league but I love to play football as well so I think I´m suited to play in both countries. Van Dijk’s seamless transition into the Scottish game has seen him become a regular in the starting XI recently. But he isn’t taking it for granted. We have much quality in the team and there are a lot of players who can play in my position so I have to be sharp in training, and in every game, he explained. I have to show that I am number one for that position, that´s what I´m trying to do and hopefully it will stay that way.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 09:41:05 +0000
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