Ronald de Boer understands that Mats Deijl will switch from Go Ahead Eagles to Feyenoord halfway through the season. The Ziggo Sport analyst is pleased with the captain of the Deventers, but points him to Sem Steijn.
Deijl announced after Go Ahead’s Europa League match with OGC Nice (3-1 defeat) that he is transferring to Feyenoord. “It’s a great step. What he says: you can wait six months, but then maybe someone else will step up, they have a different idea or there is a youth player… That train comes along once and you have to catch it. He also comes from the area, from Vlaardingen,” De Boer responds. Ziggo Sports.
The former international praises the mentality of Deijl, who was substituted in injury time at the Allianz Riviera. “He is a player who always gives everything. He can express himself well and always shows that Go Ahead is Eagles number one. He was the perfect captain. It is a loss for the Eagles, they will miss him. But in the end, as Go Ahead, you must also be happy that you can let these types of players go for a nice amount.”
When De Boer is asked whether Deijl can handle Feyenoord’s level, he keeps his distance. “Sem Steijn did a great job at FC Twente… It’s not that he’s a bad buy, not at all, but you can see that it’s a bit different. Also with the pressure and all that. Deijl seems very cool and doesn’t get fooled easily, but the pace is higher and more is demanded. So I’m curious. If you lose three times in a row at Go Ahead, the pressure isn’t there, but at Feyenoord there is. But my assessment is that he has it reasonably under control in the cup.”
De Boer gives Deijl a good chance in the Rotterdam competition. “Lotomba is walking there, he can have that…”
