Wessel Antes
Latest update:
Maarten Wijffels has in the AD Football podcast once again had his say about the work of a fellow journalist. After Simon Zijlemans had to pay the price in the podcast of the General Daily NewspaperWijffels now feels the need to speak out about an action by fellow journalist Valentijn Driessen of The Telegraph.
Driessen has been the topic of conversation in recent days, as the controversial journalist did not agree with national coach Ronald Koeman not showing up for days at the Dutch national team's press conferences.
To the surprise of many, it was not Koeman but captains Nathan Aké and Virgil van Dijk who appeared at the press conference last Friday. Driessen then asked press officer Bas Ticheler for an explanation.
“It is not up to me to justify now why Koeman is not there,” said Ticheler. “I would say: choose to ask the questions to one of the players.” Driessen was then supported by Johan Derksen.
Derksen could agree with Driessen's question. “I think it's great that the Netherlands is standing behind the Dutch national team as a whole, but I think it's weak and unprofessional that Koeman isn't there at such a press conference,” said the Moustache in Today Inside the Dutch.
“You can't do that with newspapers that have to deliver a piece every day. Then you're asking for nonsense pieces.” Fellow table member Wierd Duk also shared Derksen's opinion. “It's very bad for his own PR.” Koeman indicated on Monday that he understands Driessen somewhat and promised to approach it differently in the future.
Wiseman
Wijffels clearly shows that he does not agree with his colleague Driessen. 'I also want to say something about something that I do not like. Suddenly it becomes an item that Koeman should have spoken about earlier this week. No, he should not have done that at all!'
“The KNVB has a fixed protocol,” Wijffels continues. “There are two players available every day and the national coach comes before and after a match. That's fine, right? It would have been strange if Koeman were to sit down with the press out of some kind of panic.”
Wijffels thinks she knows where the commotion is coming from. “This is typically something that happens because there are media that actually don’t know anything to write about anymore, so this comes out. Stirring things up a bit… I don’t like that at all! Just stick to the protocol.”
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