Jan Vertonghen has listened with increasing amazement to Ronald Koeman’s criticism of Brian Brobbey. The former Ajax player, currently employed by Anderlecht, believes that the national coach of the Dutch national team is allowed to crack critical notes, but should keep it private.
Vertonghen talks in the podcast Football is Life about Koeman and his harsh words towards Brobbey, among other things. “Daley (Blind, regular guest in the podcast, ed.) Can’t say much about that, of course, but I can,” the Belgian defender starts. “I find it really incredible how big the difference is between the Belgian and the Dutch press. Of course they criticize in Belgium when things don’t go well, which they should.”
“But how things are handled in the Dutch press between, in this case, the national coach and the press…” Vertonghen expresses his surprise, and then expresses his clear opinion about Koeman’s working method. “I just happened to see this interview about Brobbey. I really don’t understand how you want to make things public like that.”
“Of course he admits that he was wrong, but why don’t you just keep that inside?”, the veteran (36) wonders out loud. “It seems as if people in the Netherlands are obliged to give a lot of information to the press. I follow Dutch football and when I watch those press conferences I find it unbelievable every time.”
Vertonghen emphasizes once again that criticism should not come to a player via the media. “Keep that inside. These are young, sensitive football players. When I look at myself, even older football players are still sensitive to a certain extent. I think it is just much more appreciated if something like that is said privately. Then you can battle each other.”
The player who wore the Ajax shirt between 2006 and 2012 does not only want to talk about Koeman and therefore broadens the discussion. “It just so happens to be about those quotes, but it’s not actually about him (Koeman, ed.). It’s more about the difference between the Dutch and Belgian press.”
“It’s unbelievable. The Dutch press is the hardest press I have seen in my career in the countries I have played in,” says Vertonghen, who immediately gives an example. “I gave one interview in two years during my period in Portugal. If you walk past the mixed zone in the Netherlands and don’t stop, then you are arrogant.”