Virgil van Dijk laments the pace of Scottish football

Former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk has revealed the pace of Premier League football is much faster than Scottish football.

Since his deadline day move to Southampton, Virgil van Dijk has dealt well with the steep learning curve under Ronald Koeman.

Given the talent the 24-year-old possesses, it wasn’t going to take him long to adapt to the English game. The Dutchman spent two years at Celtic having joined from FC Groningen for around £2.6 million.

Celtic fans were drawn to him instantly as a defender who was comfortable on the ball, powerful in the air and even had the ability to score from thirty yards. Like his current manager Koeman, he could also strike a stunning free-kick from distance.

Van Dijk has made five appearances so far already, scoring against Swansea and helping Southampton beat Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea 3-1. It was the Portuguese’s second ever home defeat as Chelsea manager.

Speaking to NU Sport van Dijk says the English game is far superior to the Scottish game.

I’ve been in five games at Southampton learned and have much more than in the previous years, so I’m definitely going forward as a football player.

The game is much faster in England than in Scotland.

The midfield is sometimes like pinball, I had to get used to it.

The centre-back made 76 appearances for the Hoops over his two-year stint at the club, scoring nine goals.