Ronald Koeman has never doubted about calling up Jorrel Hato for the Dutch national team’s upcoming European Championship qualifiers. The multifunctional defender of Ajax is only seventeen years old, but according to Koeman that should not be a problem. Hato was not in the pre-selection of the Dutch team, but was called up after several cancellations.
“It was clear quite quickly that I would call up Hato,” Koeman said at Tuesday’s press conference. “In technical consultations we always sit with Michael Reiziger (national coach of the Dutch Juniors, ed.) and we also discuss boys from the Dutch Juniors. And I was looking for a left leg, I think that is important,” the national coach explains the reasoning behind the choice of Hato. .
Koeman emphasized at the press meeting in Zeist that Hato was not the only one in the picture for a place in the Dutch selection. Jan Paul van Hecke, who performed well at Brighton & Hove Albion this season, was also an option for the positions at the back of the Netherlands.
“There were also other candidates, but they were right-footed. I had foresight, because Nathan Aké also canceled this weekend. Then I thought: I’m right again,” the Dutch national coach said with a smile.
Ronald Koeman had foresight in calling up Jorrel Hato.
Koeman could not resist giving a small sneer to the assembled press at the KNVB complex in Zeist. “I always enjoy it when you two work together…. I hardly have to watch any matches anymore. I just have to see who I have to select.”
Full infirmary
Aké is certainly not the only player who cannot be drafted by Koeman. Micky van de Ven, Sven Botman, Matthijs de Ligt and the long-injured Jurriën Timber are also missing from the selection. Koeman does have access to the experienced Daley Blind, who can possibly be deployed as a center defender against Ireland and Gibraltar.
“He is also an option for the central back,” Koeman agrees. “It’s just nice to see him doing well at Girona, at a club that plays the best football in LaLiga. Daley simply holds his own. That shows the quality of the player, as well as the smarts and experience. That’s why he is still with the Dutch team.”
With 103 international matches, Blind is by far the most experienced international in the current selection of the Dutch national team, with captain Virgil van Dijk (62 international matches) as number two at an appropriate distance.