PSV talent speaks candidly: “I’m really grateful to him.”

Last year, the young Belgian Noah Fernandez made his debut for PSV’s senior team during the league match away at PEC Zwolle (0-4). Shortly after that, Fernandez was permanently brought into the senior squad by coach Peter Bosz, and over the past two matches the midfielder has formed PSV’s midfield with Guus Til and Kodai Sano.

The talented Belgian joined PSV’s youth academy about twelve years ago. As a result, Fernandez had to travel daily back and forth for an hour and a half from Belgium to De Herdgang.

Still, the midfielder shouldn’t complain, he says himself. ''I really did have a good upbringing. Of course I missed the parties and meeting up with friends. I also don’t have any friends left in Belgium anymore, because I wasn’t able to keep in touch. But I love being at home'', the eighteen-year-old Belgian says in an interview with Sportnieuws.nl.

Scout Fousi Crouch was ultimately the one who took Fernandez to training every day. ''Of course, my parents just had to work, so they couldn’t take me. Fousi was actually just a family friend. When he then brought me home, he would also just talk for hours with my parents, the neighbors, or my uncle. He’s a fantastic guy. I’m really grateful to him, because he took very good care of me. Lately, I don’t speak to him as much anymore. But I did have a really close bond, even though I always slept in the car… As soon as he started driving, I would fall asleep and be completely knocked out until we arrived,'' continues the PSV player.

When the midfielder started playing at PSV O13, Fernandez was transported every day by minibus from Belgium to Eindhoven together with other Belgian age-group teammates. ''I got up at half past five and didn’t get home until eight o’clock in the evening. For four years my life was nothing but sleeping in the van, training, school, sleeping in the van again, eating and then sleeping again. That was my life… If I think about it now, I really find it bizarre that I managed to stick it out,'' the young Belgian says honestly.

At sixteen, the PSV player eventually moved to Eindhoven. ''I thought: this just doesn't work. Fortunately, it was a lot easier to rent an apartment because I had my girlfriend. I've been there since I was sixteen. It's going very well, but arranging food and cooking is still something I find difficult,'' said Fernandez.

Despite that, the midfielder still feels, in a way, like a 100% Belgian. ''Most of the time my girlfriend cooks, or we go out to eat at my in-laws. And my mom also comes here one or two times a week, so there’s always food. And still, I feel like a Belgian, haha. Earlier on, I was upset that I wasn’t allowed to play for the Dutch national team, but in the end I’m happy'', concludes the PSV player.