WITH HOOP IN YOUR HEART
Basketball legend Lebron is the unlikely inspiration behind Van Dijk’s drive for greatness – and four trophies – with the Reds
VIRGIL Van Dijk is already one of the world’s best defenders but says Lebron james is inspiring him to even greater heights.
James (top) is a part owner of Liverpool through his investment in owners Fenway
Sports Group and van Dijk modelled at the launch of his new fashion line
‘LFC x Lebron’ earlier this month.
Liverpool posted a video of him watching a message from the NBA legend where ‘King
James’ predicts he will do “amazing things” for the
Reds and urged him to “strive for greatness”.
Van Dijk is filmed saying “the
King has spoken” and is determined to use his words as Quadruple-chasing
Liverpool face their fiercest rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup tomorrow.
“That phrase he uses is perfect and it could be used for a lot of things,” said the Liverpool skipper.
“I definitely try to follow that because I want to achieve the most I can in life and get the maximum out of myself, the team and the position we’re in.
“We’re in a good place to do that this season – again. Every season is a challenge, but this season we’re in a special situation.”
Van Dijk says he is learning from James – and the other top athletes in the world – how to handle the negatives and positives.
“I look at all the top athletes because I feel they all have a big role, either as a role model or for their team and community, and there are so many things you can learn,” he said.
“There’s Lebron, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Tom Brady – I could name so many. I like to listen to these guys and learn how they dealt with being at the top and dealing with difficult moments, but also good moments.”
The driven Van Dijk has copied one aspect of James’ lifestyle and has his own physio and chef to help him recover and recharge after games.
“Those two parts are very important,” he said. “I do my recovery stuff and eat the right stuff so I can be optimally prepared for the next challenge, especially when you’re having three games a week.
“It was already fine, but I want to be better and make the most out of it, and that hard work nobody sees is the key to success.”
Van Dijk is back to his imperious best after last season’s difficult campaign for Liverpool and says everything has
“just clicked” again.
“I feel very comfortable in every aspect of the game,” he said. “Confidence is a big driver, but
I’ve made big steps in possession.
“The manager said the other day it’s not just as simple as wearing the armband.”
That confidence is reflected in his view of tomorrow’s testing trip to Old Trafford.
“It’s always difficult, it’s always intense,” he said. “It’s the history of the games with the two biggest clubs in
England and that brings extra expectation and pressure.
“But why not just go out there and enjoy it, play our game and hopefully go to the next round?”