Blackpool’s new boss is pleased to link up with a familiar face

The two worked together at Liverpool prior to Virtue making the permanent move to Bloomfield Road in January 2019.

Since then, Virtue has made 42 appearances for the club, scoring six times.

The midfielder has enjoyed a fine run of form in recent weeks and Critchley says the 22-year-old is exactly the sort of character he wants to work with.

“When I first thought I might be coming here I was delighted to see Matty’s name in the squad,” he told The Gazette.

“He was incredible for me at Liverpool. He’s had a really interesting journey in the way he came through and he’s going to be a really big asset to me and this football club.

“I still think there’s a lot more improvement to come from him and he’s been a valuable member of the squad and I’d like to think he’s got progression to come.

“What he also is, is a character you want to work with all the time, you see that from his performances because he doesn’t lack for effort and workrate. He’s the type of person I want to build this team around.

“Whenever coaches or managers phoned me when I was at Liverpool and asked if they could take him on loan, my answer was always adamant: ‘Take him, you won’t be disappointed with him and he won’t let you down’.

“I think he can get better, so I’m the beneficiary of those decisions which is fantastic.”

Critchley departed his role as Liverpool’s Under-23s coach earlier this week with the blessing of the Reds’ first-team manager, Jurgen Klopp.

The German was full of praise for the 41-year-old, whom he expects will be a huge success as a first-team head coach.

“The boss (Klopp) is fantastic, he was brilliant for me,” Critchley said.

“I will never forget some of the opportunities and the advice he gave me, which also applies to Alex Inglethorpe at Liverpool’s academy.

“I had a very special time at that football club but I’m here now and I’m looking ahead and I’m looking forward to what will hopefully be an amazing journey.

“I understand the Blackpool supporters will want to see certain things when we take to the pitch and I’m very aware of that.

“But if you look at my teams recently, albeit under the spotlight and under the radar, if I can recreate that here – which I’ve got every confidence I can – the Blackpool supporters will be having some exciting times ahead.”