Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 11:58• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 12:05

Mattijs Branderhorst defends NEC’s goal on Wednesday evening in the cup match against Fortuna Sittard. The reserve goalie suddenly had to make way for Jasper Cillessen this summer and saw a longer stay as the first goalkeeper go up in smoke. There is a chance that Branderhorst will leave on a free transfer next summer, but the closing item, in its own words, is not concerned with that at all.

“At first I felt like I was screwed, but I quickly turned the knob and also found it a great challenge to train with Cillessen,” says Branderhorst in conversation with the Gelderlander. “This is the ideal opportunity for me to measure myself with someone who has played at top clubs and who is in the the Dutch squad. That suits me well. Cillessen is a very good goalkeeper and I think it’s great how he deals with the high expectations. I do have the courage to knock on the trainer’s door if he doesn’t perform for a while. I think I have built up enough credit that the trainer also takes me into account.”

Branderhorst had the opportunity to leave NEC last summer for arch-rival Vitesse. The Arnhem team were looking for a new goalkeeper and saw a welcome reinforcement in NEC’s reserve goal. “I thought a transfer to Vitesse was a big middle finger to everyone at NEC,” said Branderhorst. “I feel like a real NEC player. Then you can say that the club has done me a trick, but if you think about it, it is very logical that they got Cillessen. The right match did not pass for me. I didn’t want to step down after a good season. That felt like a defeat.”

The cup match with Fortuna Sittard could just be the last for Branderhorst in the NEC shirt. The closing item has an expiring contract, so that the club can still earn something from him in the winter. “The match against Fortuna can also affect my future at NEC, because it is more attractive to stay in the winter break while we are still in the cup. I would understand if the club doesn’t let me go, because they are a close second goalkeeper. Then it will stop for me after this season and I will leave on a free transfer. These months have been confirmation that I am on the right track and ready for a step higher.”