“The collaboration with Robin is good,” says the goalkeeper at the press conference for the World Cup qualifier with Finland (Sunday at 6 p.m). “I didn’t know him personally before he came to the Dutch team. I did know that he was doing well in the Netherlands and who he was, but other than that…”
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“We get along well,” Verbruggen continues. “He is a nice boy and a good goalkeeper, it is always nice to work with him, both with Mark (Fleken, ed.) like with Robin, you can talk about the profession you love, share experiences and pick up a few things from each other.”
Taking the next step
“I think that competition always keeps everyone on their toes, but in the end you think about yourself and how you can always improve and take the next step. That is your focus and not necessarily what is happening in other fields,” says Verbruggen.
Verbruggen has been with the Dutch team for two years now. When asked to what extent he has become a different goalkeeper, he replied: “Not very different. You gain some more experience. You learn your lessons as you go. You find yourself in certain situations more often. I think I’m essentially still the same guy and the same goalkeeper, just a little better and more developed. When I made my debut, I was still a young goalkeeper. I have now gained two years of experience, both with the Dutch national team and in the Premier League at my club. You learn lessons in that. I think I have made progress in all aspects in recent years.”
Communication with Virgil van Dijk
Verbruggen was mostly calm against Malta, although there was a striking moment when the goalkeeper and captain Virgil van Dijk somewhat got in each other’s way. “We’ve talked about it. As players, after the match you always review certain moments that went well or that need to be improved. You talk about that together. You make sure you’re both thinking about it the same way and then you move on to another situation. It is a piece of communication and ultimately choices have to be made. I choose to get out. I have to be clear and hit that ball a little better. When you make a choice, you have to communicate it to your fellow players and you are the boss in that respect. Ultimately, it all comes down to communication.”