Frank de Boer understands Jasper Cillessen’s frustration about his removal from the European Championship selection of the Dutch national team. The goalkeeper, who is in isolation due to a positive corona test, spoke about a huge blow and was critical of the national coach of the Dutch. The announcement that there was a line through his name was unexpected for Cillessen. “I really have no idea what has changed,” he told The Telegraph.
“He’s so into it. That is understandable. Let’s first say that I am just as disappointed with the situation as Jasper himself,” emphasized De Boer on Saturday at the press conference, the day before the friendly against Georgia. “He is a very good goalkeeper and he has proven that for the Dutch national team. That is beyond dispute. On Sunday we still had the feeling that it would end well and of course we had all our worries then. Because what if it took longer? How long will it take to prepare?”
Cillessen still tested positive last Tuesday. It caused De Boer to have strong doubts. “Then you have to make choices. Are we going for an unfit keeper who you have to prepare for one to two weeks in preparation? While it may be one or two games already underway. We have decided not to. Also because you have a lot of confidence in the keepers in the first place. They are three fit keepers. It is also not the case that you let him play for twenty minutes. That kite won’t fly. You want to have a 100 percent deployable player at that moment.”
“That’s not Jasper and we don’t know how long it will last. As I said, I have faith in the goalkeepers I have and that’s when we came to that conclusion. As terrible as I feel for Jasper.” De Boer knows that football players with minor symptoms are sometimes available again a week and a half later. “We are playing a European Championship”, De Boer replied. “At least we know that these three keepers are in top shape.” It also matters a lot whether it is a goalkeeper or a fielder. “You can use a football player for the last ten or twenty minutes. That is not possible with a goalkeeper.”
Cillessen was replaced by AZ goalkeeper Marco Bizot, who had already lost weight as the fourth keeper. Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax) and Tim Krul (Norwich City) are the other keepers. Cillessen has never heard from De Boer that his European Championship participation would be in danger. “That’s why I have to be careful. I don’t want to say things that harm people,” he emphasized to the newspaper. Cillessen has only had mild cold complaints due to his infection.
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