Ibrahim Afellay lashes out at questions that absolutely do not please him
1 min readIbrahim Afellay didn’t dance around it over the past few days. The former PSV player and former assistant of Peter Bosz was asked last week which country he would truly support during the Netherlands - Morocco, but the Utrecht native was also asked about the rumors surrounding Peter Bosz and the KNVB. However, the disturbances after the international match between the Netherlands and Morocco proved to be the well-known last straw for NOS analyst Afellay.
Without any problems, Afellay spoke his mind about the international match Netherlands - Morocco and about the rumors surrounding Peter Bosz and a possible position as national team coach, but the questions about the riots after the Netherlands - Morocco match did not sit well with the Utrecht-based PSV player.
Afellay appears to be completely done with the questions about riots after matches involving Morocco. The former footballer feels that he has to justify himself every time things go wrong, which he finds ‘exhausting’. According to Afellay, it is also not only a problem that occurs among Moroccan fans.
Morocco reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Saturday at the expense of Canada and, after the match, many Moroccans took to the streets, including in the Schilderswijk in The Hague. At one point, the atmosphere turned, with the police being attacked. In the NOS World Cup Evening, Afellay is asked for his opinion on this, after he had spoken out strongly four years earlier about the riots following matches involving Morocco.
The former international confirms that he did that at the time, but has no desire to be constantly asked to condemn it. “They’re always turning it into a problem with Moroccans, and I absolutely don’t agree with that,” Afellay says firmly.
“Feyenoord supporters who smash things up in Italy, that is also vandalism”, he points to the year 2015. “The same applies to Ajax supporters who stop a match in the stadium because they throw pyrotechnics onto the pitch, which is a danger for the people. That is just a social problem.”
“I find it so disappointing that only that small group is always highlighted. But we never talk about the large groups that do behave. I often have the feeling that I always have to account for the actions of others. Isn’t it bizarre that I have to account for myself when someone else does something wrong?. After all, I’m not responsible for that.”
NOS presenter Sjoerd van Ramshorst tried to soften the issue and said that it was not his intention to have Afellay account for the aforementioned facts. “I mean not with you, either, but it is true that I always get asked such questions. It can be quite exhausting, I can tell you,” said a clearly irritated Afellay.
Comments11
We need better end product from the wide areas. If X player is meant to do those cutbacks, then start demanding more shots on target, not just pretty possession. ⚽🔥
On the tactics, i agree with the idea but disagree with the timing. When PSV change tempo too late, the opponent resets easily. Make it earlier, and the wing play will look a lot cleaner.
Eens. i think the biggest upgrade is the way we recycle possession after losing it, because that limits chaos in the box. Still, we need more ruthlessness in the final ball, chances cant keep dying on the edge of the 18.
Bro the way they talk about the tactics is peak, but Im not convinced the defensive transitions are fixed. One long ball and suddenly we are chasing. 😂
"PSV Inside" really makes it sound like everything is under control. In reality, if our right side gets dragged out, Tillman and Pepi are left too isolated. 💀
"PSV Inside" says the fullbacks can be extra aggressive... ok but only if the midfield covers. Otherwise its just free counters for the opponent 😂
I actually liked the idea of switching the build-up to the half-spaces. If the fullbacks dont jump at the right times, though, Luuk de Jong style knockdowns wont matter.
Does anyone else feel the midfield is too passive in games like this? Sangare has energy, but when the ball circulates too slow between him and Veerman we get pinned. 👀
Ziyech was the spark in build-up, but im worried about how open the space behind him gets when we push. Maybe the double pivot has to drop 5-10 meters earlier, not after.
If PSV go back to a 4-3-3 with Zahavi up top, it feels like they will still lack that second-wave threat. Hope the article is right about the pressing because without it, we just invite counters.
If PSV go for another high press this week, i need the front 3 to actually win their first duel. Safer passing out of pressure too, because otherwise it turns into silly turnovers.