Mario Been still has a high hat on Oussama Tannane. The 28-year-old winger annex attacking midfielder will return to the NEC starting eleven on Sunday after a period of illness, which coach Rogier Meijer is very happy with, according to Been. The analyst believes that Tannane football “certainly would not look out of place in the top three”, but thinks that clubs do not dare to take the gamble because of his erratic nature.
Tannane has been missing from NEC in the past two games. In the five matches he participated in, the Moroccan international was good for one goal and two assists. Although those numbers don’t say much yet, Been is very pleased with Tannane. “It is a gem on the Dutch fields that we actually want to see play every week,” says the ex-trainer of the Nijmegen team prior to the meeting with Feyenoord on ESPN.
Been sees a player ‘who can score a goal from scratch and has a great kick in both legs’. He therefore attributes top three Eredivisie football qualities to Tannane. “But there are always other things that make clubs doubt,” Been refers to the attacker’s infamous past. Tannane was discredited several times as a player for Heracles Almelo and Vitesse because of his behavior, and was also removed from the selection at both clubs. With the Arnhemmers it even came to a definitive break.
Meijer also recognizes Tannane’s unpredictable character. “At that moment it is impossible to control it, but I sometimes try to talk to him about the image he sometimes gives. But I am just satisfied with him, I think he behaves well,” said the trainer of the people of Nijmegen. In good shape, Meijer knows what he can do with his player. “His football qualities are exceptionally good and he has something that you come to the game for. But in the end he has to show it.”
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