Sherida Spitse questions Andries Jonker’s statement that he considered quitting as the Orange national coach before the tournament. However, the captain says that no friction has arisen within the team. “We concluded this a long time ago with each other.”
Jonker heard from the KNVB in January that he must leave after the European Championship. Two days before the first group match against Wales, he caused a stir by telling the NOS Voetbalpodcast that he had considered quitting just before the tournament.
“If I had been a trainer, I might not have done it. But it is what it is,” Spitse said on Friday at the press conference in Lucerne.
Jonker’s doubts disappeared and he resolved to get the most out of the European Championship. For that, he needed the support of his team and therefore he asked every staff member and every player to put their signature on an orange shirt.
“I immediately put my signature on the shirt,” Spitse said resolutely. “For us, that story is not new either. We already put that signature two weeks ago.”
‘No, the peace has not been disturbed’
According to Spitse, Jonker’s statements do not cause friction within the team. On Saturday, Oranje starts the European Championship with a match against Wales. “We are mainly concerned with tomorrow’s match. We mainly talk about the footballing part.”
“Has it disturbed the peace? No, because we know what we are doing. It is what it is. We have already concluded this with each other a long time ago. We have moved on.”