Michel Vlap is in conversation with Football International discussed the mental aspect of football. The 26-year-old midfielder from FC Twente explains how he deals with 'public hatred' and stands up for, among others, Anton Gaaei, who has had a lot to deal with in recent times. “That is why the mental aspect is increasingly important. There used to be a taboo on it, fortunately that has changed,” says Vlap.

The Twente midfielder wants to clear up a misunderstanding in the interview. For example, in January after the away match against Feyenoord (0-0), a video circulated in which Vlap can be seen in an entertainment venue. The video stated that Vlap, who squandered a big chance in the match in De Kuip, was out the day before the match. Not true, says the right leg.

“I'm in a club, partying and being secretly filmed,” he starts. “Anyone who knows me knows that I will never be found in such a tent the day before a match. It was an old video, taken during a training camp or something. But it was edited in such a way that it looked new.” People 'think all kinds of things' without knowing what impact it has, says Vlap.

“I do not understand that. Go and stand there yourself. Just feel that pressure. Just feel what it does to you. That thirty thousand people look at you and expect something from you.” In any case, Vlap finds it 'bizarre' what is thrown on social media. For example, he suffered a lot online after the match against Feyenoord. “I just talk to myself a bit: 'Friend, just keep your mouth shut, because I'm sure you can't even make a dent in a pack of butter yourself.'”

“You want some things not to affect you, but that is not always possible,” continues Vlap, who was also recently confronted by a 'supporter' at a gas station. “We had drawn, I had a bad day and missed some opportunities. I'm getting gas and someone calls me names. “You dirty bastard, are you going to ram balls in again, or not?” My own 'supporter', although I don't want to call him that. You're already disappointed from the match and then something like that to top it off. That really affects you.”

Gaaei

Vlap points to Gaaei. After AZ – Ajax (2-0), the back deleted all his posts on Instagram to prevent angry supporters from expressing themselves negatively about him on his account. “He is still young, has to miss his family and ends up in a team that is not running. I have seen him at work: that boy can just play football, but who knows, he may now feel under enormous pressure.”

“He makes some unfortunate mistakes, sure, but what happens to him… That's too sick for words. That is why the mental aspect is increasingly important. There used to be a taboo on it, but luckily that has changed. You cannot accommodate everything on your own,” he concludes.

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