Mohamed Ihattaren looks in an interview with ESPN back on his extremely difficult relationship with Roger Schmidt. The twenty-year-old attacking midfielder of Ajax clashed at PSV with the German trainer, who, according to Ihattaren, simply has completely different football principles. “Honestly, I didn’t like how he wanted us to play. But then, who am I?”, Ihattaren said. ESPN†
Now that Ihattaren is fully fit again and with Ajax in preparation for the new season, the smile on the face of the top talent is back. “I’ve always been a happy boy. Well, not for a while, but I’m always a happy person. My hobby has become my job. For a while I missed the gratitude that this can be my work.”
Ihattaren is asked how he looks back on his time at PSV and the collaboration with Schmidt. “I am extremely grateful.” Is he grateful to Schmidt? “I am grateful to PSV”, it sounds clear. “I’ve learned a lot. You don’t always meet trainers who are good for you. I think we have a very different view of football. The way he wanted us to play, I honestly didn’t like that. But hey, who am I. me? I’m just a player like everyone else.” But fair. “That’s it. I’m just being honest and I say what I think. That’s how I live, I’m not going…”
“I think that is something different here in Amsterdam”, compares Ihattaren, who is rented from Juventus by Ajax until January 1. “They can have a bit more here than in Brabant, I think. I also come from Utrecht. Utrecht-Amsterdam is a bit the same. People in Brabant are very sweet and great, but in Amsterdam it’s just: show how good you can play football, even if you are twelve.†
Whether the technician notices a difference between Schmidt and Alfred Schreuder? “Yes,” it sounds wholeheartedly. “Of course it is different. Football is just played. Just show how well you can play football, in whatever position you play. Just show why you play at Ajax. Of course you also have your duties, but… I got a lot of help, from the club anyway. I guess it doesn’t always depend on that. My problem was I think I’ve been too honest at times. I’ve also been young. Sometimes you take the edge off. I I’m glad I’ve experienced that now at the age of eighteen, nineteen, because I now know how to deal with it for the rest of my career.”