After a season full of injuries, Noni Madueke’s focus this season is mainly on staying fit. The PSV attacker is looking forward to working with Ruud van Nistelrooij next season. A childhood idol for the born Englishman.
It is admirable that Noni Madueke remains so calm when he talks about his injuries from last season. Several times the Englishman dropped out with an injury. It is frustrating for the attacker who has one main goal this season.
“My focus is mainly on staying fit. It’s no fun standing by the side and watching the boys play. But it’s part of my development. I just have to get stronger from this.”
“I just had a lot of bad luck last year.”
The wing attacker played ‘only’ 824 minutes last season: just over nine matches. He missed a lot of games, especially at the end of 2021.
Isn’t he afraid of getting injured? “I’ve never been. I was just unlucky last year. It was unfortunate. Of course it helps that I am tall and fast. But I didn’t start doubting myself.”
This season, the following applies to PSV as a whole: new round, new opportunities. With the brand new head coach Ruud van Nistelrooij, the way to the top must be started. Madueke knows the trainer from childhood and is looking forward to a new collaboration.
“He was a great player. I have been a fan of Manchester United from an early age and therefore also of Ruud van Nistelrooij. I can learn so much from him.”
“Unfortunately, he doesn’t often participate in training.”
Because a striker coach does not need the head coach on his staff. As a former top striker of Manchester United, among others, he can tell exactly what an attacker should do. “He knows better than anyone what it takes to be a good attacker,” Madueke agrees. “He puts a lot of emphasis on when I have to be in the box to score. His timing is great, unfortunately he doesn’t often participate in training himself.”
It is noticeable that the Englishman speaks Dutch better and better. In principle, the attacker should be allowed to play for the Dutch national team next year, because he will then be in the Netherlands for five years. A year ago he kept that door ajar, but now it seems like a closed book. “That will not happen. I focus on the English national team. But I have a lot of respect for the Dutch national team and give them a good chance at the World Cup.”
But he will continue to learn the Dutch language. What can he say then? “I don’t find it very difficult to speak Dutch,” says the cheerful attacker flawlessly.