Neil Warnock doubles down on questionable Virgil van Dijk claim

Neil Warnock can never be accused of a lack of faith in his players.

The Cardiff City manager insists that he wouldn't trade defender Sol Bamba for Liverpool centre-half Virgil van Dijk in a defensive situation. Van Dijk, who remains the most expensive defender of all time, has proven to be a revelation since moving to Anfield in January but Warnock honestly believes that Bamba is superior when it comes to defending. Warnock first made the questionable claim earlier this season by announcing that "Bamba is slightly better than van Dijk, defensive-wise." A bigger fan of Bamba clearly doesn't exist and Warnock doubled down on his comments on talkSPORT this week when he explained his opinion further. "I just think Sol’s a very, very good defender. He’s nowhere near like Van Dijk with the ball at his feet or calmness on the ball - (but) in a defensive situation I’d back Sol," Warnock said. Not even Bamba himself could fully endorse Warnock's assertion as he laughed off the compliment from the man who signed him following his 2016 release from Leeds United. "That was the gaffer being the gaffer," Bamba said.

"He got carried away. I wouldn’t have said that. Definitely not."