He sometimes seems rather reckless and introverted, but he is also technically gifted, strong and, above all, very well-rounded. There are plenty of things to say about PSV midfielder Malik Tillman ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash against Ajax (6.45pm). In his second season in Eindhoven, the 22-year-old American is probably the PSV player who has made the biggest impact so far.
Tillman has now played in several positions at PSV: from left winger to defensive midfielder. And that makes him very valuable to trainer Peter Bosz.
The trainer recently used Tillman as a defensive midfielder for the first time in the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain (1-1), a test that came out of necessity due to Jerdy Schouten injured for weeks.
It was a golden move by Bosz, as Tillman kept his own well in that place in the Parc des Princes. He then filled that position well in the match against PEC Zwolle (6-0 win). PSV seems to have found a solution for Schouten’s temporary absence in the person of Tillman.
Tillman likes Stevens
Former PSV coach and player Huub Stevens even believes that Tillman will do the best in his new role. “As I’ve seen him play, he’s developed even better in that position. The game is even bigger in front of him in that position. You can see him stand out now, yes many people think so,” said the Limburger.
“He has also played good games in other positions, but now that he is a little bit lower on the field, he has a little more time to make a choice. And that is also an advantage for him.”
It’s no surprise to Stevens that Tillman is also doing well as a defensive midfielder. “Sometimes he makes a pass or an important tackle and other times he scores or provides an assist, these are all characteristics of a modern-day midfielder.”
“Somehow it didn’t surprise me that he also does well as a defensive midfielder, because Tillman is an American. I think energy has a good mentality -American actors usually. They never let the team down,” Stevens said.
Fun
But it’s not just his football qualities that Tillman is impressing at the moment. During the Champions League match with Sporting Portugal (1-1) turns out that the German soccer player is also made of good stuff as a person.
The American was applauded in the match when he fired the ball out of bounds in a promising situation without hesitation, after his direct opponent Ousmane Diomandé was seriously injured. This is how the Sporting defender could handle it.
It was a situation where the average football player regularly chooses to continue playing. Tillman could count on praise for his actions from, among others, then coach of Sports Rúben Amorim, who has now succeeded Erik ten Hag who was dismissed at Manchester United.
Controversial
Tillman may reflect on his controversial goal for Rangers FC on February 12, 2023, when he ended up in a precarious position without knowing it.
Rangers kicked the ball over the sideline in the cup game to treat Tillman’s injury. Opponents Partick Thistle then wanted to give the ball back to Rangers in a sporting manner, but to everyone’s surprise, the great Tillman quickly seized the play and scored.
Then the unexpected American was given a team humbled Partick Thistle players over himself. The issue was soon put to rest when Partick Thistle Rangers got a free pass to goal for a goal.
Trainer Bosz is obviously happy with Tillman. “His development is not so much about football, because he can already play football well,” Bosz said on Friday. “I think he has improved a lot in his personality, because he needs that to be a great player.
“Despite his young age, I think he’s already performing very consistently and that’s what’s important. You see players perform best one week and less the next, but in top football you have to play every week. And Malik is now working on going through that development.”
PSV and Bosz go to Ajax with confidence and excitement: ‘Self-confidence, that’s there’
2024-11-01 23:16:00
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