A former coach has bizarrely claimed that the ex-Tottenham Hotspur ace Davinson Sanchez is a better defender than Liverpool stalwart Virgil van Dijk. Servet Cetin, who once marshaled the defense for Turkey, has boldly stated that Van Dijk doesn't quite match up to Sanchez's defensive prowess.
Van Dijk is currently navigating his seventh season with the Reds and his leadership role has been more pronounced since he took over the captaincy from Jordan Henderson. With his contract set to expire at the end of this campaign, there's been plenty of chatter about his future at Anfield.
On the other hand, Sanchez is relishing his time at Galatasaray following his move from Tottenham in 2023. His Spurs career saw him rack up 207 appearances, although he didn't get off the bench during the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid.
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Servet, who notched up 59 caps for Turkey and was recently part of the coaching staff at Sivasspor, hasn't shied away from explaining why he rates Sanchez above the Liverpool skipper. His reasoning, though, doesn't make the claim any less strange.
''I think Sanchez is a better defender than Van Dijk. In England, defenders play regionally, they do not change their positions," Cetin told Ajannsspor. "They do not enter the level of right back or left back. They constantly take positions in the center. They usually play slowly. They intercept the ball in the center because they are physically good. But they struggle when they have to open up.
"Van Dijk had a hard time against Baris Alper Yilmaz in the Turkey-Netherlands national match [at Euro 2024]. However, Sanchez is both in one game. He has a level, plays in a wider area and does not let anyone pass. He does a much more difficult job. He goes out with the ball very well.
"Sanchez is a much better stopper than Van Dijk. Maybe people will say come on from there, but it wouldn't matter if he was in Liverpool. For example, Sami Hyypia came to Turkey and was not liked. Therefore, Sanchez is better than Van Dijk and many stoppers in the Premier League."