The smile is back with Jasper Cillessen, writes Sport this weekend. The Valencia goalkeeper was under the bar for 90 minutes on Friday in the friendly match against Villarreal (3-2 win). The new trainer José Bordalás thus sent a clear signal: Cillessen is currently his first choice as a goalkeeper. Last season, the Dutchman was plagued by injuries, but he is going into the new season in good spirits.
“Cillessen’s smile comes from only one man: José Bordalás”, assures Sport. Bordalás was appointed in May as the permanent successor to the fired Javi Gracia. The new trainer came over from Getafe and quickly introduced his new pupils to his philosophy. Bordalás is known as a coach who strictly watches the fitness of his players: they have to be able to push their limits and play football relentlessly to get results. Cillessen notes that his team has had ‘character’ since the arrival of Bordalás.
“A very difficult game after a tough week”, Cillessen typifies the first practice game of the new season. Villarreal still led 0-2 in minute 67, but Valencia won the game through goals from Manu Vallejo (minute 68 and 86) and Denis Cheryshev (minute 90). “We have proven we have character, by turning a 1-2 deficit into a 3-2 victory at the end. Not only do we have a lot of quality in the squad, but now also a lot of character. It will be a good year for us. I feel very good,” says Cillessen on the club site.
“That it was tough is normal in the preparation. We have trained a lot this week. It has not been easy, but there is nothing like a 3-2 victory in this way,” concludes the Dutchman, who had a difficult period behind the game. has back. He was removed from Frank de Boer’s selection shortly before the start of the European Championship after a corona infection and was outraged about it. Cillessen struggled last season with a muscle injury and a knee injury, meaning he only played ten league games. He did appear in the last five league games of the past season.
Competitor Jaume Domenech was under the bar for most of last season’s games, but now seems to have to stop. “If there is no offer that satisfies both sides, Cillessen will be the first goalkeeper of Valencia,” he said Sport. The sixty-time international of the Dutch has a contract until mid-2023 in Valencia. According to the newspaper, Valencia will lose an amount of twelve million euros to Cillessen over the next two years, which consists of his salary costs and the remaining amortization of the transfer fee paid to Barcelona in 2019 (35 million euros). “The club would like to save that amount, but Bordalás wants to keep Cillessen clear.”