Valentijn Driessen does not think that Donny van de Beek played an exceptional game on behalf of Everton. Both the English media and manager Frank Lampard were lyrical about the midfielder’s performance in the Premier League match against Leeds United (3-0). In the podcast kick off by The Telegraph However, Driessen says that the positive reactions to Van de Beek’s game are ‘exaggerated’.
“Enthusiastic? Well, he was ordinary”, says Driessen when asked. “I saw that whole game, but he played a very normal game. Really nothing special. Lampard was lyrical, but that really doesn’t matter at all. He’s a purchase from Lampard, who just puts a few feathers up Donny’s ass because Lampard is responsible. Donny van de Beek played nice, but really nothing special. It is good that he played and immediately played ninety minutes. You can just demand this from Donny,” said the journalist.
Important role of Donny van de Beek! †
After his tight pass, the ball eventually lands at the feet of Seamus Coleman who shoots Everton at 1-0 ??#ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #EVELEE pic.twitter.com/XYQPSZO1XA
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 12, 2022
“I loved Donny,” said Everton manager Lampard afterwards. “It’s not easy to play with two in midfield. He did a brilliant job with Allan. It is special for Van de Beek to first play at home with Everton. Sometimes he was a little too calm on the ball, but he works hard and plays very intelligently. It was amazing. He can play as number six. But he can also play higher up the field. He has the talent to play between the lines. The threat to the goal is one of the reasons it was achieved.”
The English media also praised Van de Beek, including the Liverpool Echo† “Maybe this was proof that Manchester United were ruining a real talent. This was the performance of a proper Everton midfielder† Also daily mail and The Guardian superlatives were lacking. “Van de Beek was excellent in his first home game with Everton. Manchester United fans must be wondering why he was allowed to be loaned out. Van de Beek looked sharper in Everton’s blue than Manchester United’s red. The fact that he was walking around with a bleeding nose at one point only made him more popular with Everton fans.”
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