The 28-year-old Jetro Willems has still been without a club since his departure from Greuther Fürth in September. If it is up to the Rotterdam left back, he will quickly get back to work with a new adventure. In an extensive interview with Football International turns out he hasn’t lost his bravado. “Give me two months and I’ll show it one more time. That I belong to the best left backs in the Netherlands.”
On September 1, Willems had his contract in Germany consciously terminated. The left back was ready for some rest and time with his family. “I kind of took a break to get everything in order. I’ve had a few rough years. With my injury. After that I had no time for myself. No time to take a vacation, to be free. I had other options, offers. I have also disappointed a few Dutch clubs. I chose for myself.”
Willems says he doesn’t sit still now that he is clubless. “I am busy getting ready for a new club. I train from Monday to Saturday. Inside, at the gym. But also outside with the ball, for myself, on an amateur field in Rotterdam. I do walking coordination exercises, you name it. Everything.” He has also found his mental peace. “That’s what I needed.”
The left leg believes that the mental level in football is sometimes underestimated. “We must not forget that football is also a mental game. If that part is not quite right, it can do something to your physical condition.” He is not quite done with the sport. I don’t want to go that far. I’m not depressed either. But I felt it was time to take a step back. And I have the luxury of being able to do that.”
Willems thinks he can still be of added value in the top and sub-top of the Netherlands. “Just recently, after I left Germany, I said the same thing to the people around me: Give me two months and I’ll show it one more time. That I belong to the best left backs in the Netherlands. I’m not done yet, just wait. Jetro Willems is coming again.”