On-loan Liverpool FC central defender Ozan Kabak has explained how Virgil van Dijk has helped him settle in new surroundings on Merseyside by taking on a mentor-like role for the young Turk.
The 21-year-old Kabak arrived at Anfield on deadline day in the January transfer window in an initial short-term loan deal with the Reds defensive core being depleted due to season-long layoffs for the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
Kabak has been an inspired performer at the back for Jurgen Klopp’s side as he has formed a solid pairing alongside Nat Phillips and with the season nearing its end, Klopp would have a major task on his hands over the decision to trigger the player’s buy-out clause.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Kabak has highlighted the role Van Dijk has played in his development as a centre-back in Premier League football with the Schalke loanee saying that the Holland skipper has helped him broaden his mentality on the pitch.
“As a defender, I think you need to smell the danger and you need to see it before it happens.
“I don’t know how it’s called in English but you need to guess where’s the danger and you need to go there and cover. You need to be intelligent. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do but it’s about experience, too, I think.
“Our friend Virgil [van Dijk], for example, is so good at this job. He does it very well because he’s a really experienced guy and he knows this football. So I tried to do my best and game by game I think I got better on this.
“He [Van Dijk] gave me small tips about our football mentality,” Kabak adds. “I think defenders understand each other better and he came with some small tips about how we play or what I need to do. It helps [my] game.
“I analyse every striker before the game with the video analysis. I ask the guys who work in here [for] their videos and I work on it.
“Before the game I know which foot is stronger and what the abilities are of this striker. It helps me a lot because then it’s easier to guess his next movements.”
