Stomach churning sycophantic tirade from Henry Winter in The Times....
Reckless Jordan Pickford and referee Michael Oliver failed to show duty of care to Virgil van Dijk
Extract for example....
"The 29-year-old will need that fortitude, watching others going out to train, heading off to do boxes and pattern of play, laughter following them, knowing it leads to match day. They will miss him, his gifts on the field, his personality off it. Van Dijk is a substantial loss to the champions, a statement of the obvious given that he finished only seven points behind the winner Lionel Messi in the most recent Ballon d’Or. He reads the game so well, and so much in advance, so able to intercept, dispossess, distribute. Van Dijk brings leadership, too, and a commanding, calming presence. He is a Rolls-Royce on the field, and a role model off it. "
However, it did throw up (no pun intended) this little cameo
The City centre back Aymeric Laporte, no stranger to injury’s cruel company, was one of the first to send a get-well message to Van Dijk. The Dutchman is strong mentally, so much so that he admitted a year ago he does not use a psychologist, although Liverpool did have an expert working remotely with players on their mindsets during lockdown.
There we have it....not only Inhalers but also Hypnotism. YMCA