Ronny Deila believes that Virgil van Dijk is a potential Champions League winner.
The classy defender was at his best in Thursday’s Europa League win over Dinamo Zagreb where alongside Craig Gordon he managed to keep the Croatians at bay.
After being overlooked for Holland’s World Cup squad van Dijk has been called up into the Dutch international squad by Guus Hiddink with his club manager unstinting in his praise for the defender.
“I cannot see his weaknesses,” Deila admitted. “He’s quick, he’s strong, he’s good on the ball, he’s calm, he reads the play well, he’s good in the air.
“You name it, he has everything. Yes. He is the perfect defender. He has to step up every day and go to training to get even better but he is improving all the time. Virgil looks fit and sharp and, for me, I hope that when he does leave Celtic he goes to a top, top international club.
“I don’t have so much experience of those things but, in my opinion, if he gets consistency in his play and is even more disciplined in his structure, we’re talking about a player who could win the Champions League.
“That’s the goal but, of course, I want to keep him here as he’s a vital player for us.”
On Friday Holland host Kazhakstan in a Group A qualifier followed by a trip to Iceland. Holland lost their opening qualifier 2-1 away to the Czech Republic with van Dijk an unused substitute.