NOS Football•
Ernest Poku himself does not see the summer as hectic. But quite a bit happened. After the European Football Championship with the Dutch Juniors, on which he played well but the team went to the final, he started the European season with AZ after just two weeks of vacation. After one competition Eredivisie, a dream transfer followed to Bayer Leverkusen.
In the meantime, the 21-year-old attacker is again affiliated with the Juniors in preparation for the match against Jong Israel of next Tuesday, with three games for his new employer in the legs. At those first three games, two in the competition and one in the cup, Erik ten Hag was in the bank, the trainer who brought him to Germany for around ten million euros.
This week the Dutch coach was fired, something that also came as a surprise for the brand new acquisition of Leverkusen. “I was shocked, yes. Before I went to the training, I saw it on Instagram,” says Poku during the training camp of the Dutch promises. “Many players were already gone for international matches that day, but of course it was the conversation of the day.”
Tears at farewell
Poku thinks it is “a pity” that the trainer with whom he could talk in Dutch is gone. Yet he still supports his choice to leave his beloved AZ behind and to opt for Leverkusen. “Do it right”, thought Poku, who grew up in Amsterdam, thought he could draw at a club participating in the Champions League.
Yet quickly came the realization that he had to leave his beloved AZ. That caused tears after his switch in the first league match against FC Groningen. “All those years at AZ went through my mind. When I thought of it, the tears came loose,” says Poku.
View the emotion that came loose at Poku after his switch:
Emotions with departing AZ player Poku after switching
Poku is already looking ahead. He wants flames and success in Leverkusen in a renewed young orange. Because Dutch trainer or not, his ambitions are unabated. “In the end I am in control. I have to show myself, the trainer cannot do that for you.”
Poku mainly wants to raise his return and adapt to the game of Bayer Leverkusen, in which offside players play the entire flank. “Although of course it is a matter of waiting how the new trainer wants to play,” says Poku.
New names, old acquaintances
In addition to succeeding in Germany, he wants to play the hangover of missing the European Championship final in an young Orange with many new faces. Although, he also sees many old acquaintances. Michael Traveler opted for no fewer than six players from AZ.
“I want to be important and take my experience with me,” the eager attacker closes.
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