Teun Koopmeiners has opened up about a โcomplicated periodโ at Juventus, revealing that he feels he was often deployed out of his natural position, leading to a dip in form. The Dutch midfielderโs comments, made to Prime Video after the Real Madrid defeat, suggest the player and club are now working to ensure he is utilized in his preferred midfield role.
Koopmeiners admitted to being accountable for his recent difficulties but confirmed he has taken steps to address the situation with the clubโs hierarchy.
He said, via CM: โSurely I went through a somewhat complicated period, and I take responsibility for it. I also talked about it with the club and with the coach (mister).โ
The key issue, according to the player, was being positioned too far forward, which conflicts with his core identity as a playmaking midfielder.
โIn some matches I played in a position that wasnโt mine, too advanced, but I consider myself a midfielder: I like to build play, manage the ball in midfield, look for the right pass. Of course, I would also like to score, but my nature is that of a pure midfielder.โ
He provided specific examples of having to adapt, contrasting his performance in a preferred role with those where he was pushed forward.
โFor example, against Atalanta I played well in my role, while against Villarreal I had to adapt as a striker, and thatโs not me. I clarified the thing with the coach and today I returned to playing where I feel most comfortable.โ
Ultimately, Koopmeiners remains focused on improvement and the collective goal, stating:
โI must continue to improve and give more, even if I think I have played some good matches. The key is to find consistency, always maintain a positive spirit and think about the good of the team, because in the end that is what really counts.โ
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Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN
