Noni Madueke has left an excellent impression on his return to the Eredivisie. The PSV attacker was back in the starting line-up for the first time since October 16 last year in the won duel with Vitesse (0-5), and immediately showed himself with an assist and a series of nice dribbles. Not only the field game of the KPN Man of the Match was appreciated, but also his interview with reporter Milan van Dongen was greatly appreciated in the studio of ESPN†
Already in the fourth minute of play, Madueke provided a technical tour de force. The Englishman slalomed over the right flank past several Arnhemmers and then put the ball ready for Mario Götze. The German ran into goalkeeper Jeroen Houwen, but Eran Zahavi shot flawlessly from the rebound: 0-1. “When you see how often he walks past it so easily in the first twenty minutes…”, Mario Been judges afterwards. “Truly a super player. That the ball also stays so nice and close to him! There are others just as fast as him, but those balls go in all directions. With him, that ball is really his friend.”
† After a wonderful individual action by Noni Madueke, Eran Zahavi . shoots @PSV ahead! † † ESPN #?? #VITPSV pic.twitter.com/1xfadBa3II
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) February 12, 2022
Madueke himself, who did not score, was especially happy that he could play pain-free and that he could help PSV to a victory. “I’m healthy again, and that’s what really matters. Playing nice, dribbling, that’s what I live for. I feel blessed and want to thank God. I feel very good. But the deal was to play for an hour. The hamstring still felt good, but we agreed. That’s smart, because on Thursday I have to play in the Conference League again (against Maccabi Tel Aviv, ed.)”, concludes a laughing Madueke.
†The smile says enough”, concludes Aletha Leidelmeijer after seeing Madueke’s conversation. “Really delicious. And a nice boy, but we can’t say that too often, and a good player.” Jan Joost van Gangelen wonders what his colleague is referring to. “Why can’t we say that? I think so! A wonderful player! And a good accent, man.”
Cody Gakpo, who scored on a pass from Madueke, is also very pleased with the return of his attacking partner. “It’s nice, of course, because it’s been a long road for him. I’m just happy and proud of him that he’s doing so well. And thanks to him I also get more freedom. That’s kind of how it works, if it comes from both sides. But the other players who have played there are all good too, in their own way,” said Gakpo.