Teun Koopmeiners is one of the eye-catchers in the Serie A at the moment. The Atalanta midfielder has scored four goals after six games and was even joint top scorer in the Italian league for a while. The club from Bergamo currently occupies a handsome second place and that is partly thanks to the the Dutch international. In conversation with Rondo Koopmeiners told Monday evening about his role within the team and the upcoming World Cup with the Dutch national team.
Koopmeiner was responsible for a hat-trick against Torino and also managed to find the net against Hellas Verona. “Sometimes I do not know what is happening myself, but it has been going well in recent weeks,” said the midfielder in the football talk show. “I think it could be seen last year that I played more forward. I also played on 10 and hanging from the right. The trainer expects me to go along in the attacking game to score myself and create danger. If you include set pieces, you have a chance to score.”
Last weekend Atalanta did not get further than a 1-1 draw against Cremonese. Nevertheless, on goal difference, a handsome second place is occupied in the Serie A behind leader Napoli. Just like Atalanta and Napoli, AC Milan also has fourteen points from six matches. “Sometimes everything falls into place, then you start nice and well. This weekend was unnecessary and sour. Even if you see that the competitors do get the points at the end. But we started well. I am very happy here, both at the club as well as outside it. Now I have been able to participate in a whole preparation, I notice that it is bearing fruit.”
Checker or 10
Koopmeiners therefore thinks that he has a great chance of going as a basic player to the World Cup in Qatar. “I think I can come into my own there,” he refers to a place in midfield next to Frenkie de Jong. “If I can continue this form of Atalanta, I think I am a good option. There is also a lot of competition, but it is clear that I want to go to the World Cup and have nothing else planned in November. I always report with the same will : that I will be in the first eleven, but I have had a clear conversation with the coach that he sees me as a controlling midfielder and not as number 10. I have been in the starting line up a few times under Van Gaal. also that it can and should be much better, but my goal is to go to the World Cup and get the base.”
According to Rafael van der Vaart, Koopmeiners should show himself more at the Dutch. “I often find you a bit blue in the Dutch national team. If you play like you do now, he must be a basic player at the the Dutch squad. That’s how you should report,” is the advice of the former midfielder. “That is the remark I make to myself after the last international matches,” replies Koopmeiners. “When I play, I think I have to put more of my own stamp on it. With players like Frenkie next to you, it’s sometimes easy, but also difficult. Because those are players who pull the game to themselves. But that’s definitely something I do.” take away, that’s nothing new to me.”