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Claude Puel, Leicester boss, explained the improvements made by his team in Liverpool before the defender of the Reds is qualified as the best central defender in the world.
Van Dijk has imposed himself as one of the elites on the planet since moving to Anfield for 75 million pounds 12 months ago, helping his team reach the top of the Premier League with a four-point cushion.
The former Southampton star also played a decisive role in Liverpool's participation in the Champions League final last season and the Dutch captain is now widely regarded as one of the world's biggest football centers. .
(Image: Jan Kruger / Getty Images)
Puel, who led Van Dijk in Southampton, said he considered the Dutchman as the best player in the world at St Mary's.
And the French detailed the specifics that helped Van Dijk to further improve his game at Anfield.
Speaking before Leicester's visit to Anfield on Wednesday night, Puel said: "He did not have a lot of chances with Southampton, but improved step by step.
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"After, we know all the qualities and attributes that he can have, he's a fantastic player, and my feeling for him does not change with Liverpool." He took another dimension.
"When I arrived in Southampton, he was of course a good player but he was comfortable, he liked to defend himself deep without covering his back and taking risks to dribble.
"At first, it was a bit difficult to argue with him, to change and evaluate.I think step by step he took the intensity and the feeling of defending with sometimes 50 meters behind him.
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"Or defend one against one without risk." I think it was important to cover well and get out of the box and not just stay in place.
"He became a modern defender at that time and played match after match.
"Despite his injuries to Southampton, the other teams have looked at his quality and I think it was a good development, he listened at the end and is a fantastic player and competitor.
(Image: Angel Martinez / Real Madrid via Getty Images)
"He's strong, powerful, fast, technical, he can play under pressure without a problem, it's fantastic, I said at the time in Southampton, for me, he was the best defender of the But he confirms I think with Liverpool. "
Van Dijk is uncertain for Wednesday's game after an illness, but the Reds have a chance to open a seven-point lead over second-place Manchester City after their 2-1 clash against Newcastle on Tuesday.
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