Liverpool new boy Ozan Kabak reveals ‘his idol’ Virgil van Dijk has given him ‘valuable’ tips and advice on how to adapt to Jurgen Klopp’s system following his rocky start to loan spell at Anfield
- Ozan Kabak has shared the ‘valuable’ advice from his idol Virgil van Dijk
- Kabak revealed how Van Dijk gave him tips on how to defend in Klopp’s system
- Turkey international has had a bit of a rocky start to his loan spell at Liverpool
- He is also hoping to play with Van Dijk should he return from injury this season
Ozan Kabak has received ‘valuable’ tips and advice on how to defend for Liverpool from his ‘idol’ Virgil van Dijk.
The Turkey international has endured a rocky start to life at Anfield since joining the club on loan last month but is now starting to find his feet with a little bit of help from the Dutchman.
The Schalke loanee – who could see his move made into a permanent one for £18million this summer – lost his first two Premier League games since joining but managed to register his first league win against Sheffield United, with Jurgen Klopp‘s men ending their barren run with a 2-0 victory at Bramall Lane.
Ozan Kabak (left) received ‘valuable’ advice on defending from ‘his idol’ Virgil van Dijk (right)
And with Kabak being thrown in at the deep end, he has revealed that advice from Van Dijk has helped him settle into his new surroundings.
Kabak told Premier League Productions via the club’s official website: ‘I have met with him. He is a really nice guy, a top person – like his talent!
‘He gave me a lot of help and tips about football. Now he is in rehabilitation but I hope he will be back soon and he will help us on the pitch also.
‘I am looking forward to playing with him, of course, in the defence. He gave me some advice about how Liverpool plays in defence and how we have a high line, so he gave me some tips about how Liverpool play.
‘It’s little things but of course it helps when you play, when you defend. He is such an experienced guy and his words are very valuable for me.’
The Turkey international endured a rocky start to life at Liverpool following his loan move
Now, with his first league win in a Liverpool shirt under his belt, Kabak is starting to settle
Kabak has made it no secret that the Dutchman has long been his idol, having received a signed shirt from the man himself back in 2018.
The 20-year-old revealed that he was linked to Van Dijk through a mutual friend, who helped give him his ‘wonderful gift’.
‘So I had a friend in Galatasaray, Omer Bayram – he’s a childhood friend with Van Dijk from Holland,’ Kabak added.
‘So I was talking with him and I said something about Virgil van Dijk, he’s very good and I like him.
‘He said, “He’s my childhood friend.” I couldn’t believe it. Then the day after he brought his jersey to me and I was so happy. I put this jersey on my wall in my house. That’s the story.’
Upon signing for the Reds, Kabak heaped praise on the Dutchman and revealed he couldn’t wait to meet his idol.
Kabak reveals the story around the signed shirt he received from Van Dijk in December 2018
‘Virgil van Dijk is, I think, the best centre-back in the world at the moment,’ he after arriving at the club in January.
‘The last three or four years he’s always been at his best. He’s strong, he’s so fast, he’s clever. So that’s why I see him as an idol. I want to meet with him as soon as possible, to be honest.
Van Dijk is back in training but is not expected to play again this season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in the Merseyside derby against Everton in October.