Valentijn Driessen points to Jonk and Van Nistelrooij in the Veerman affair

Valentijn Driessen also spoke out about the controversy surrounding Joey Veerman and national coach Ronald Koeman. The PSV player openly said that the coach no longer needs to call him, and that led to many discussions over the past week on countless talk shows.

According to Driessen, Koeman would do well to provide clarity, with text and explanation, about why no appeal is made to Veerman for the Netherlands national team. ''That it remains vague between Koeman and Veerman, I can still live with that'', the journalist says in the podcast Kick-off by De Telegraaf.

Still, according to Driessen, it is also important that the precise reasons why Veerman isn’t in Orange come out into the open and, in that context, attention is also drawn to assistants (and also former PSV players) Wim Jonk and Ruud van Nistelrooij. ''But boys like Wim Jonk, who had Veerman at FC Volendam, and Ruud van Nistelrooij, who had Veerman at PSV, are now being pulled in. Because now it’s being said that those Koeman assistants are also not away from Veerman. That they may also have played a role. Then it becomes an oil slick that spreads. And you shouldn’t want that'', is the opinion of the 'most prolific predictor'.

The journalist therefore also believes that Van Nistelrooij could possibly face criticism from PSV if the former striker possibly plays a role in the dispute with Joey Veerman. ''Then Jonk can no longer go to the butcher in Volendam, because he would then be considered responsible for not selecting Veerman for the World Cup. Ruud van Nistelrooij could also face criticism from PSV people, because they would be behind it. Koeman must therefore just speak plainly'', continues Driessen.

Driessen also thinks he knows that the national team coach is not charmed by the midfielder's behavior. ''I just think Koeman doesn't take to Veerman's behavior. And that doesn't even have to be wrong behavior, for example cynical. Peter Bosz also said that with Joey you precisely know where you stand, because he says everything straight to your face. Some people can deal with that, but others can't'', the journalist said.

It also points to Oranje captain Virgil van Dijk. ''Koeman might be able to do that, but maybe not the important players. Maybe a player like Virgil van Dijk after that Euros thought: 'No, we don't need to have those guys involved anymore'. Koeman can also come from that side in a very cynical way, so perhaps it comes from the squad or the coaching staff. As a player, he naturally belongs among them. 'Also among those best 26'', Driessen concludes.