Roord about her much-discussed criticism of Parsons: ‘It really means nothing’ | NOW

Jill Roord does not understand why there has been so much fuss about her critical statements about national coach Mark Parsons in de Volkskrant† The midfielder has also not had to come up with the Brit.

“We fool around with each other, just like everyone else. It really means nothing,” Roord said on Wednesday after the Netherlands-Portugal (3-2). “I didn’t expect this to be a thing. I don’t even remember saying that literally.”

Roord said in Wednesday de Volkskrant Among other things, the players do not like the long discussions with the national coach. “He likes to go in-depth and then 50 percent will drop out with us. Me too. I find it interesting, but I also have to laugh sometimes: what kind of question is this?”

When asked by the paper whether Parsons’ discussions sometimes last three hours, Roord said with a laugh. “Intensely yes. The first time he was there we immediately indicated that: this is taking too long. Now they are shorter, but sometimes I think: was a meeting necessary for this and how long? But he is learning, it will be better.”

Roord’s statements caused a lot of controversy. “I didn’t get it at all,” said the lead actor. “I only heard now, I just played a game. I honestly haven’t heard anything about it. I’m not on Twitter at all.”

National coach Parsons has not discussed her statements with Roord either. “He knows it’s a joke,” Roord said. According to her, nothing needs to be said. “Then he would have come to me.” Parsons said before the game against the NOS only that “one player had talked too much about a coach”. He was not asked about it at the press conference afterwards.

Interview was recorded and approved

Although 25-year-old Roord cannot remember making the statements during a press conference last Thursday at the players’ hotel in Worsley, the interview was recorded with her consent, the reporter said. de Volkskrant know if requested.

Roord wanted to read the detailed article before publication. The interview was sent to the press department of the KNVB on Tuesday. Within an hour, the reporter from de Volkskrant approval from press secretary Janneke Versteeg. He didn’t have to make any major adjustments.

Roord says he did not read the interview himself. “I told Janneke and Inge (press officer Inge van As, ed.) that they can get something out of it if there is something crazy in it. I trust them in that. They didn’t find it interesting.”

Whether Roord will read interviews before publication from now on to avoid a fuss? “Maybe I should do that. But they (press officers Versteeg and Van As, ed.) are still professional. I trust them in principle.”