Willem van Hanegem provided Frenkie de Jong with constructive criticism on Tuesday evening. In conversation with Hans Kraay Jr. let the former international on ESPN know that he was ‘completely disturbed’ by the way the midfielder walked during the previous international matches of the Dutch. Van Hanegem would rather see De Jong on the right in an attacking role.
“Frenkie de Jong was not appointed at the press conference, but he has had quite a bit of criticism lately,” says Kraay Jr., who receives an affirmative answer from Van Hanegem. “That criticism was always justified.” Pierre van Hooijdonk, among others, was critical of De Jong’s game after the last international match. The midfielder was also accused in the Spanish media of walking too much and being invisible on the ball too often.
“I also got very tired of it, to be honest with you”, continues Van Hanegem after citing the criticisms. “He was just walking and gave a little bit wide and back. You were completely disturbed by that. There was no shot at all,” says Van Hanegem, who incidentally does not question De Jong’s qualities.
“When we say it’s not good, it doesn’t mean Frenkie isn’t a good player. He’s just a great player. That’s why it’s a shame that he’s messing around like that. Now he is in midfield and behind him is Blind. Then the ball goes there at most. I think he should play an attacking role at the right in midfield for the the Dutch squad. It’s a player… He has so many qualities, but now it’s just walking and walking in width. Anyone can do that. You need him up front,” concludes Hanegem.
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