Jan Paul van Hecke is not called up for the Dutch national team every day, as the Brighton & Hove Albion defender emphasized on Saturday after the impressive 1-3 win over Manchester United. The Dutchman in English service nevertheless dreams of playing time in the Dutch team. Perhaps Ronald Koeman will keep an eye on the well-performing man in the European Championship qualifiers with France and Greece in October.
Van Hecke wonders whether Koeman will actually contact him soon. “It’s a bit early to say after a few games, even if you’ve done well and it’s at the highest level,” he said. Viaplay. “Let’s just wait and see. But it is a dream of mine and if it happens, I will be the happiest man on earth.” Koeman always looks at form, as Van Hecke knows. “I’m in good shape and I have to keep it that way. But we still have a long way to go.”
Jan Paul van Hecke is not thinking too much about the Dutch team yet.
The former defender of NAC Breda and SC Heerenveen looked back on an extremely successful afternoon at Old Trafford. “Winning 1-3 in such a historic stadium is great. It’s also great that you play so dominantly. We always try to play like that and it works out quite well.” Van Hecke then addressed the question of why Brighton, the current number four in the Premier League, is such a good football team under manager Roberto De Zerbi.
“We play football well from the back, and there is an idea behind it,” explains the eight-time international of the Dutch Juniors. “We just have good players and a good technical staff, so I think it is just a perfect picture,” said Van Hecke, who may be in the season of his final breakthrough. “Certainly, and the confidence of the trainer is always nice. Two weeks ago (3-1 win over Newcastle United, ed.) Things went well and now again, that is paying off.”