Liverpool’s defender, Virgil van Dijk, has identified Olivier Giroud as the most formidable adversary he has ever encountered, dubbing the experienced AC Milan striker his ‘nemesis.’
Van Dijk, at 32, is widely acknowledged as one of the most well-rounded center-backs in the contemporary era, having faced off against numerous elite attacking players in both club and international competitions.
- Chelsea complete first January transfer after official announcement
- Dortmund chief hits out at Erik ten Hag over Jadon Sancho claims
- Chelsea staff feel academy star should be ahead of £32m signing
Incredibly, no opposing player has successfully maneuvered past Van Dijk in the current season.
However, the Dutchman concedes that he has frequently found himself challenged by the 37-year-old French international Giroud, formerly of Arsenal and Chelsea, throughout their clashes over the years.
Speaking to France Football, Van Dijk elaborated on how Giroud consistently managed to achieve success against him through various means, expressing relief that the French striker departed the Premier League to pursue his career in Italy in 2021.
Asked to name his toughest opponent, he replied: ‘Olivier Giroud. Every time, you think you’ve got a hold of him, that you’ve got him well marked, but he always manages to score in one way or another: with his head, his foot, his knee.
‘He has often scored against me.
‘I always felt like I got him, but somehow, he always managed to score. Whether it was for Arsenal, Chelsea or France, he always scored.’
Van Dijk disclosed that he exchanged a lighthearted moment with Giroud when the striker found the back of the net during Liverpool’s 5-3 triumph over Chelsea at Anfield in July 2020.
He added: ‘I said to him when we won the Premier League, we won 5-3 we were 3-0 up or something and he scored a scrappy goal, I think it was against the crossbar and fell down, scrappy goal, I said to him: “You scored again?!”
‘So I would say he is the guy that scores against me, and just that annoying person.’
The former Celtic and Southampton player, honored as the Premier League Player of the Season in 2018/19, proceeded to mention Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, and Erling Haaland as some of the most challenging adversaries he has faced.
‘There’s so many fantastic strikers I’ve played against,’ Van Dijk went on.
‘Messi, Aguero, Haaland is a difficult one because he has everything, but I’m going for Giroud as he’s my bogeyman – annoying!’
