Jeremie Frimpong hopes for a starting place next summer during the European Championship, but the right wing defender of Bayer Leverkusen is still anything but rich. Frimpong faces a lot of competition in the Dutch national team. “I really enjoy playing for my national team, so I really want a starting spot,” says Frimpong Kick 't Met On Tour by Ziggo Sports.

Frimpong has been making waves at Bayer Leverkusen for several seasons, where the 23-year-old wingback fits perfectly into Xabi Alonso's system with three centre-backs. Ronald Koeman also tends towards a variant in the Dutch national team in which the wing defenders are allowed to rise high.

Frimpong was already in the Dutch World Cup selection, but did not play in Qatar. So far he has only one international match. “To play for the Dutch national team, I first have to play well at my club,” said Frimpong, who was told by the presenters in the talk show that he is already doing well in Germany.

This season, Frimpong has an impressive tally of 11 goals and 11 assists in 33 official matches for Leverkusen. “Things are going well now, but you can't rest on your laurels. In football, everything can change very quickly, you know. If I don't play well anymore… Then I could just lose my place at my club.”

“Even if it's just for one game, there's a chance my replacement will grab his opportunity with both hands. That's how I grabbed my chance at Celtic. One of the players got injured, then I was allowed to show it, and that I did.”

In the Dutch team, Frimpong faces fierce competition on the right from Denzel Dumfries, who was one of the standouts at both the last World Cup and the European Championship. Frimpong is asked whether he could also play from the left. “Certainly. I can play anywhere on the side of the field,” Frimpong responds determinedly.

Frimpong has almost always played from the right in recent years, but also gained experience on the left at Manchester City. This included the Under 23 team. City's main squad did not reach Frimpong.

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