Bayer 04: Frimpong sees U21 cancellation for Netherlands as a mistake

European Championship qualification

At Bundesliga leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Jeremie Frimpong has long been an integral part of the starting line-up, and now the 22-year-old right-back is about to make his debut in the Dutch national team. The latter had so far been denied him despite his nomination to the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – also because he was punished by bond coach Ronald Koeman for his rejection of the U21 European Championship.

The 60-year-old made it no secret in September that Frimpong’s exclusion from the last international matches against Greece and Ireland had no sporting reasons. “We are not happy with players who cancel for ‘Jong Oranje’. If you do that and think that shortly afterwards you can play for the Dutch national team, I don’t understand it. It doesn’t work that way,” Koeman explained at the time.

Frimpong, who can now hope for his first appearance in the upcoming European Championship qualifying games between Oranjes and France and again the Greeks, later described the cancellation as a mistake:

“When I look back at the cancellation, it obviously wasn’t the best idea. When I think back now, that was a mistake I made. But now I want to focus on the future and focus on what’s to come and now I’m going to help the team as best I can. It’s a great feeling to play for your country, so I’m really looking forward to it,” the Leverkusen player said in the newspaper.AD“quoted.

Bond coach Koeman announces 1:1 conversation with Frimpong

When asked about the full-back in a press conference, Koeman also said he was clear, but at the same time announced that he would discuss the incident again in a 1-1 discussion with Frimpong. “I still want to discuss the story with him. Why he wasn’t there for a while and now he’s gone again.”

The “Elftal” coach also insisted on pointing out Frimpong’s defensive weaknesses: In his system there is “always a defender who plays further forward and he can do that perfectly with his speed. But you don’t see him enough in the defensive role. He’ll continue to develop in that, but he won’t be tested often and that was one of the reasons why I chose another right-back recently, as Denzel Dumfries (Note d. Editor: From Inter Milan) doesn’t deserve to doubt him.”

Frimpong, who moved from Glasgow to the “Werkself” in 2021 for a fee of 11 million euros, has scored eight goals in ten games for Bayer across all competitions this season. In total, the Amsterdam native, who trained at Manchester City, has 15 goals and 24 assists from 105 competitive games for the Bundesliga club. His market value had risen steadily since his move to Bayer 04, developing from 10 to 40 million euros.

Bayer boss Rolfes about Frimpong: “One of the best players in the Bundesliga”

When asked about his club’s recent rise, the right-footer was particularly impressed by coach Xabi Alonso, who particularly encouraged his personal development. “Our team is doing very well, but in football you can never get too complacent. We’re not even halfway through the season yet so we have to keep going. The Bundesliga is a good competition for young players and I am developing well, also because I have a good team and good coaches who help me,” said Frimpong.

The Dutchman extended his contract on the Rhine until 2028 at the beginning of October. “Jeremie Frimpong has not only developed into an absolute popular figure in our team over the past few years. In his position as an attacking right-back, he has become one of the best players in the Bundesliga during this time. The contract extension underlines Jeremie’s importance for our Werkself,” said sports director Simon Rolfes, praising his protégé.

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