Wayne Rooney backtracks on Virgil van Dijk clash as Man Utd icon retracts 'unfair' remark

Wayne Rooney has confessed he was taken aback when Virgil van Dijk confronted him during a live TV interview on Tuesday night . The Manchester United icon, who has criticised Van Dijk multiple times this season , has admitted one of his remarks was "unfair". Rooney has been notably critical of Van Dijk's leadership during Liverpool's recent slump in performance. However, the Dutch defender hit back on Tuesday night, questioning Rooney about his comments during a live TV interview on Amazon Prime following Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League . In the tense exchange, Van Dijk seemed to take offence at Rooney's suggestion that he had become complacent, stating: "I think if you would watch games, then [you'd see] I would definitely take the responsibility. I think the comment that I signed my new deal and then it's like, you know, that's it and let it slide. I think that was a bit...." Despite maintaining his stance that the defender's performance have been underwhelming, Rooney said on his BBC Sport podcast: "I thought he was good that night, and I had loads of people say, 'Oh, when he came up to you,' I think fair play to him for coming out. "We didn't know he was coming out. It was meant to be [Dominik] Szoboszlai, I think, to come to the table. But I think fair play to him, he came out and he put his point across. "Listen, Virgil van Dijk over the last five, four years has been one of, if not, the best centre-backs in the world, and his performances have dipped over the last few weeks. "I've had my opinion on that; he has his own, which you have to respect. But when you're the Premier League champions, teams are coming for you, and when you don't win one game, people ask questions. "So, when you don't win four games in a row, of course, there are questions about the captain. I think I said it a few weeks ago on here, what he should be and he will be doing is getting the players together. "I think he said that he got the players together and took them for a meal or something, trying to bring that chemistry back, and that's what I was saying he should be doing as a captain, and he's done that. It certainly seemed to help in the Madrid game. "He's a fantastic player, but he hasn't started the season great. You want to see good players playing well, and he performed well [against Real Madrid]. So, for him, I'm sure for Liverpool, he hopes that continues." Even though Van Dijk's unexpected appearance took Rooney by surprise, he welcomed the frank exchange between them. "When he was there, and I think it's great. No disrespect to Szoboszlai, but I'd rather speak to Van Dijk," he concluded. "I think the issue is, when you're you don't play well and you're not winning games, as Premier League champions, everyone's going to have an opinion. "And, of course, when you're not playing well or you're not winning games, that opinion, they're going to look at why and give their thoughts why. Liverpool can use this in two different ways: they can let it affect them, or they can use it to spur them on. "You look at Man United over the last few years, the criticism that they've had. I played the game, I was captain of England, captain of Man United. I got criticised for all kinds. "That's part of being a top player. You have to deal with that. You have to accept it at times. Listen, I was unfair with my comments, I'd be the first to hold my hands up. "Same way I did with Man United when I had a rant about them and then they won games, and I come back on that. If I was unfair, I'd be first to hold my hands up.. "I think Van Dijk, his issue was– maybe I was a bit unfair on that because I don't know him as a person. I said he got his new contract and he looked like down to it a little bit. "So maybe I was a little bit unfair on that comment, but from a performance point of view, I think I was speaking what I felt and what I was seeing, and I think I was right on them."