Wim Rijsbergen is not exactly impressed with Orkun Kökçü as Feyenoord’s new number ten. The midfielder recently took over the shirt from Steven Berghuis who left for Ajax and on Thursday against FC Drita (0-0) in the preliminary round of the Conference League, Kökçü could be admired for the first time with that number. Rijsbergen thinks that the only 21-year-old midfielder still has to take the necessary steps to reach the required level.
“I hear many people say that Kökçü can become the number 10 of Feyenoord. But if you are very honest, he has not yet lived up to those expectations,” concludes Rijsbergen, former Feyenoord player, in an interview with the General Newspaper. The trainer, on the other hand, also praises the daring and brutality of the international from Turkey. “The fact that as a young guy you dare to approach your trainer with the question whether you can have the shirt with number 10, of course also says something about your drive and belief in your own qualities.”
Kees Kwakman and Mario Been aim at the same Feyenoord player
The Feyenoord midfielder was already tackled in the ESPN studio on Thursday.
“I honestly also think that Kökçü has what it takes to become a structurally important player. He undeniably has talent. The point is that he will be decisive much more often. After all, you expect that from a number 10,” Rijsbergen adds. Berghuis’ successor at Feyenoord. Former attacker Regi Blinker hopes, just like Rijsbergen last, that Kökçü will come out of his shell. “I’ve known Orkun for quite a long time, know that he likes to play as number 10. And in youth he has often been that defining player. Only now I would like to see more bouts of his brilliance. He has the potential.”
Kökçü scored 4 goals and 3 assists in 31 matches for Feyenoord last season. A big difference with Berghuis, who finished with 21 goals and 16 assists in 41 appearances. According to Blinker, the return of the midfielder must therefore increase quickly at Feyenoord. “And that is also difficult for a young player, especially now that Feyenoord is not exactly in its best period as a club. Only that is what you expect from a creative midfielder,” said Blinker, who continues to hope for better times. “I believe that he will become the number 10 at Feyenoord that he wants so much to be.”
Kees Kwakman and Mario Been were also critical of Kökçü on Thursday evening. “Kökçü, apart from the fact that he handed in twenty balls, got one good corner from Jens Toornstra. He also handed every corner to the keeper or the defender in front of the first post. With that you can break open the game, but the didn’t radiate anything either,” said Kwakman at ESPN. “He suffers too much loss of the ball with the simplest solutions. What Kees indicates: he wants to take every free kick and corner, but hardly anything comes out,” Been added to his colleague analyst.