After a failed BVB change
Eredivisie instead of FC Bayern or Borussia Dortmund was the motto for the two-time national player Armel Bella-Kotchap on Deadline Day: two weeks after his loan move, the 21-year-old Southampton professional made his debut for PSV Eindhoven at the weekend and drew a positive conclusion. There was also praise from coach Peter Bosz after the first 63 minutes of action.
“I enjoyed making my debut in front of the PSV fans, they were fantastic. I’m glad that I was able to play so many minutes so that I can quickly get back into my rhythm,” said the central defender after the Dutch’s 4-0 win against NEC Nijmegen (quoted via “Football International“), through which PSV defended its top position in the Eredivisie due to a better goal difference compared to Alkmaar and Enschede (to the table).
“Armel has made a very good impression on me so far,” said Bosz, referring to the Paris native, who was no longer part of the squad for Premier League relegated Southampton at the end of last season and was looking for a new challenge after relegation. “He already did that in training, but I also think he played well against NEC. I asked Armel to just play and told him that he doesn’t have to show everyone that he has a good long ball,” the former Leverkusen and Dortmund coach continued.
With Bella-Kotchap & Gekas: The most expensive departures from VfL Bochum
Bosz praises PSV signing Bella-Kotchap: “Always good positionally”
Especially as a central defender you have to be able to “play modestly. Because we have so many good football players in defense,” continued Bosz. Bella-Kotchap won his duels and “showed his speed when it mattered.” He was also always good positionally, which I think is very important. He’s football intelligent.”
It is not unlikely that the defender will play in the first Champions League duel of the 2023/24 season against Arsenal FC on Wednesday. Bella-Kotchap was confident about the Dutch’s chances: “They obviously have a lot of quality, Arsenal is not a top team in the Premier League for free. But if we do our best, we can really make a difference there too.”
Club comparison
Eredivisie
Premier League
€187.23 million
Market value
€1.09 billion
€53.50 million
Issues 23/24
€234.94 million
Peter Bosz
Trainer
Mikel Arteta
For the complete club comparison
Bella-Kotchap moved from VfL Bochum to the “Saints” in 2022 for 11 million euros and played 24 Premier League games in England last season (two goals). In September last year he made his debut in the national team under Hansi Flick and was part of the World Cup squad in Qatar, but was not used there. The right-footer with Cameroonian roots was no longer nominated in 2023. He was able to double his market value over the past year and is currently, together with Milan’s Malick Thiaw, the fourth most valuable central defender of German nationality (statistics).
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