Joshua Zirkzee after the first Anderlecht goals: ‘Let them talk nicely in the Netherlands’ | Football

sport">For an empty goal, Zirkzee wanted to let a ball roll painfully slowly over the goal line against the team from Amsterdam, but it slid away just before the line. Painful, but against Cercle the attacker showed that he can indeed score goals. “It’s always nice for a striker to score. I don’t want to be reminded of that missed opportunity against Ajax. That was childish and stupid of me and it will never happen again. Today against Cercle I thought: just shoot.”

sport">There were many voices in the Netherlands that Zirkzee should have gone to Feyenoord this season instead of Anderlecht. “Let them talk there,” says the goalkeeper. „I had a good conversation with Trainer Vincent Kompany – whom I looked up to – and I was sold. Anderlecht is a top club in Belgium. Can we handle Vitesse on Thursday? It will be an exciting game, but I am convinced of my own team.”

sport">Kompany emphasized that Zirkzee is well in the group, but does not put all the pressure on his shoulders to score weekly now. “He looks 28, but he’s only 20 years old.”

sport">The striker himself laughs: „Can I score twenty goals? I didn’t set myself goals. Of course I want to score as much as possible, but I can also enjoy assists. There is a good click with Benito Raman.” All in all, he is very pleased with his progress in Brussels. “I also kept going even though I had calf cramps, but took a big step in fitness. I feel good physically and mentally.”

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