Ibrahim Afellay is particularly critical of PSV talent Mohamed Ihattaren. The midfieler of the Eindhoven team returned to the match selection against Fortuna Sittard on Sunday (1-3 victory) after he was left out of the selection a week earlier by trainer Roger Schmidt for the match with Ajax (1-1). Afellay saw Ihattaren raids on Sittard on Sunday, but was not impressed. “He just has to realize that he is doing badly,” said Afellay.
“We praised him in the beginning, everyone recognizes his talent,” said Afellay on Sunday evening Studio Football. Earlier in his early career, Ihattaren was criticized for his attitude and behavior. According to Afellay, the nineteen-year-old midfielder did not pick up the gauntlet at the time. “A lot has happened to him last week. Then you can throw your butt against the crib, or you make sure that you put yourself in the spotlight with the trainer. ”
“He will never be Ryan Thomas or Mauro Júnior,” Afellay continued, referring to the playing style of PSV’s two midfielders. “He is a creative player and you have to let him be creative. But make those dirty meters, just show normal behavior. Make sure you arrive on time, live for your sport. He himself once stated that he did not know what it was like to be a professional. Those are statements. ” Afellay emphasizes that Ihattaren is still a young boy and has the world at his feet.
“Everything and everyone tries to help you with that,” continued the former midfielder of PSV and Barcelona, among others. “But yes, nowadays they are all brothers, they do not dare to tell each other the truth. It goes from: hey bro this, hey bro that. But you also have to tell each other the truth. He has enough people around him, but apparently they are not telling him the truth. ” Afellay still played with Ihattaren at PSV and drove him to training every day. Since the talent has a driver’s license, he drives to the training himself and there is no longer any contact with Afellay.
PSV released a statement last Sunday prior to the match against Ajax about Ihattaren and the reason that he was excluded from the match selection. “A club knows that it represents a certain market value. Then of course you do not make such a statement. Then you must have made it very colorful “, said a critical Afellay.