Chelsea legend John Terry has explained why he thinks he was a better defender during his playing career than current Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
Terry seemed to have turned the table with his arguments on ‘who is who’ in the Premier League’s famed hall of center-backs.
Arguably, Virgil van Dijk has established himself as one of the best Premier League defenders ever to grace the game. His composure, stability, stamina, team play, and positioning, including great goal-scoring skills, have kept him miles above his contemporaries.
But how does he fare in the hall of fame of Premier League legendary defenders? The likes of Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, and so on, equally had sterling individual and club careers in the English top flight.
While the Dutch may earn his credits for his heroics for Liverpool, other defenders like John Terry believe he is still down the pecking order, using himself as an example.
Reacting to a social media post that specifically pitched him against the Dutch defender, Terry insisted he was a better defender than Virgil van Dijk.
In a witty few lines, he elaborated on key criteria that he believes van Dijk is a no-match for him. Specifically, he mentioned goals, clean sheets, Premier League individual awards, club trophies, and more.
In a telling conclusion, the former Chelsea star said he has immense respect for Virgil van Dijk, but the defender is still below him based on the stats.
“Goal…Clean Sheets…Prems Individual Awards…FA Cups…
“Shall I keep going…
I love VVD but…,” he wrote.
John Terry’s comments could be both an honest and biased assessment. But how do the two players compare? Let’s dive in!
Virgil van Dijk and John Terry’s achievements
John Terry had an illustrious career marked by numerous achievements and accolades. He won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, one Champions League, and one Europa League.
His individual awards include PFA Players’ Player of the Season, FWA Footballer of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, and Premier League Hall of Fame Inductee.
For Virgil van Dijk, the Dutch has recorded a significant impact in English football, especially when he joined Liverpool.
He has won the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and Community Shield one time. He also clinched the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
His individual awards include PFA Players’ Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, and UEFA Defender of the Year.
Virgil van Dijk and John Terry Individual Qualities
Away from what they have achieved with their clubs in the Premier League, how do Terry and van Dijk compare on attributes and playing styles?
Terry seems to have the bragging rights over Virgil van Dijk when it comes to leading the defense and organizing the game. He was known for his ability to command the Chelsea defense and motivate his teammates.
Van Dijk is also a leader in his own right but not as aggressive and vocal as Terry was.
Another area Terry seemed to do better than Virgil van Dijk was on his technical abilities. He could easily read the game, anticipate moves, make crucial interceptions, and even lead attacks.
Van Dijk is equally great tactically. He makes crucial and timely moves to curtail danger and protect the team, but his major weakness has been occasional defensive errors due to poor communication.
On aerial prowess, Virgil van Dijk is actually the better one than Terry. The Dutch has the height and is virtually unbeatable with second balls. This has made him a great resource for Liverpool during set pieces.
Also, van Dijk is known for his unrivaled strength and stamina with the ball. He is a solid defender that can stop any striker and is more proficient in one-on-one situations than Terry was.
His other strong point is ball-playing ability. While Terry was more of a traditional defender who focused on his defense role, Virgil van Dijk is an example of a modern ball-playing defender who contributes to attacks and creates chances for his teammates.
In your opinion, who do you think was a better defender between Virgil van Dijk and John Terry? Drop your comments below:
