Mohamed Ihattaren was recently sent off training by coach Roger Schmidt, who was rather annoyed by the attitude of the only eighteen-year-old attacking midfielder. He was promptly put on the bench by the German coach last Sunday against FC Groningen (1-3). Former player Björn van der Doelen understands that Schmidt sometimes has trouble with Ihattaren, but on the other hand he also stands up for the youngster.

“Look, one of those Menneke is eighteen, then you’re still at an age when you have to be a little tough”, explains Van der Doelen in the podcast of Football International. “Everybody’s looking for what kind of attitude I give myself. I also saw images from before the match (against FC Groningen, ed.), he was like that, yes what I say, trying to come across as tough. Those kids at that age don’t always know how to behave. As a coach you have to say a bit like a father and his son: ‘Here pats, do normal man’. It’s that simple, isn’t it? Then you just don’t play.”

Van der Doelen doesn’t think Schmidt should be extra careful with Ihattaren. “You can’t keep shouting that he’s such a great talent”, emphasizes the former midfielder of PSV. “It’s him and he knows it by now. What I do like is that the coach is not difficult and weighty about it. Ihattaren needed a twist around his ears. Well he has had it, he has said ‘sorry’ and we go on again.” In Groningen Ihattaren did join PSV, which had a successful start to the new Eredivisie season.

Ihattaren has his fate in PSV in his own hands, according to Van der Doelen. “If we’re lucky, PSV has some guys in the selection who can also correct those young guys a bit. That often works very well. It’s the way it goes, you shouldn’t keep your hand over them all the time. Occasionally give a kick under the ass and then stroke the ball again. Like you raise your own children. I am convinced that Ihattaren is a very good boy who can play soccer very well”, concludes Van der Doelen, who played in the Philips Stadium between 1994 and 2001, his analysis about Ihattaren.