Ruben van Bommel started like a star at AZ, but then had to watch from the bench. Partly thanks to advice from father Mark van Bommel and grandfather Bert van Marwijk, the nineteen-year-old attacker remains calm. “But I’m just impatient.”
Van Bommel noticed that things can move quickly in football on Monday at the Jong Oranje press moment. While he was completely hot last month and had to give one interview after another, this press moment was limited to just two. “It makes sense if you haven’t been in the starting lineup a single time since then,” Van Bommel explains matter-of-factly to NU.nl.
The winger is currently going through the inevitable difficult period of a young player, after having shown himself uninhibited for a while. After a good last season at MVV with fifteen goals, he switched to AZ. The nineteen-year-old Limburger immediately played football there.
He scored three times in the first seven games and played many minutes, both in Europe and in the Eredivisie. Van Bommel did not seem to need time to get used to the highest level in the Netherlands. This also resulted in a first call-up for the Dutch Juniors. But immediately after the international break, Van Bommel had to make a move.
Since then he has played – purely as a substitute – only 74 minutes. “That is very frustrating,” says Van Bommel. “Also because I don’t have the feeling that my form has deteriorated. I actually have the feeling that I quickly adapted to the Eredivisie after my MVV time and I have no doubt that I can handle the level.”
Ruben van Bommel after his goal for AZ against FC Santa Coloma in the preliminary round of the Conference League. Photo: Pro Shots
Talking to father and grandfather
Van Bommel says he arrived at the Dutch Juniors extra irritated due to his difficult last weeks. He understands that it can be instructive for his development that he has to fight back. “But I never see a place on the bench as something positive. Although I also realize that I should not express my frustration too much. I try to remain calm.”
His father Mark van Bommel and grandfather Van Marwijk play a role in this. The current trainer of Royal Antwerp FC and the former national coach of the Dutch national team are both seasoned in football. “I talk to them a lot,” says Van Bommel.
“My father also has to deal with players who sit on the bench and are not satisfied. He says: the best thing is to keep fighting and do what you always did before,” says Van Bommel, who is also from grandfather Van Marwijk. receives regular advice on what could be improved.
For example, about how he could be bolder in his actions. “I choose the best solution. Sometimes I can also go for my own chance a little more. But I shouldn’t focus blindly on that,” says Van Bommel.
Father Mark van Bommel and grandfather Bert van Marwijk were in the stands at the Dutch Juniors-Jong Moldova (3-0) to encourage their (grand)son. Photo: ANP
‘It was necessary to loosen up for a while’
In the next eight days, the winger wants to forget the past few weeks and do his own thing with the Dutch Juniors, for which he was called up for the second time. The Limburger calls it “special” to wear the Dutch shirt, which his father wore 79 times on behalf of ‘the great Orange’.
“That logo on my chest gives me a boost. It feels more and more like home here anyway. It was necessary to disconnect from the club for a while. I notice that it gives me freedom in my head to be in a different environment. “
This is indeed partly different, if Myron van Brederode had not also been called up. And that is precisely the person to whom Van Bommel is currently losing the competition at AZ. As a result, it seems questionable whether Van Bommel – who started twice during the previous international match – will make minutes for the Dutch Juniors.
“I long for that. Maybe as a nineteen-year-old I should be patient and wait more for my opportunity, but I am a football animal. I get impatient when I don’t play. But I convert that impatience into drive.”
2023-10-10 03:06:33
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