Xavi Admits His Mistake With Guus Til for the Netherlands
The Netherlands head coach acknowledged that he made a mistake by initially leaving the PSV player out of the squad, but Til took advantage of his emergency call-up and is now pushing for an opportunity against Greece.
Guus Til needed only a few days to change Xavi Hernández's mind. The PSV player was not originally included in the Netherlands squad for the start of the UEFA Nations League, but he was eventually called up following Justin Kluivert's injury.
His response quickly impressed the new head coach. Til received his first minutes of the international window in the 1-1 draw against Germany before coming off the bench again during the 2-1 victory over Serbia in Belgrade.
It was against the Serbians that he truly earned the coaching staff's confidence. Til entered in the 67th minute and, just two minutes later, provided the assist for Mexx Meerdink to score the goal that ultimately secured all three points for the Oranje.
His impact was enough for Xavi to publicly acknowledge that his initial decision had been a mistake.
“I told him that I was wrong about him. I have to be honest about that.”
The coach also praised the way Til has worked since joining the squad and described him as a great professional.
Meerdink Also Takes Advantage of His Opportunity
Mexx Meerdink has a similar story. The striker was also not part of the original squad and received his call-up after Donyell Malen was ruled out through injury.
His impact has been even more immediate. The forward made his senior international debut against Germany, entering during the first half following an injury to Brian Brobbey, and created several opportunities during the draw in Amsterdam.
Against Serbia, Meerdink took another step forward. He started the match, converted a penalty in the first half and later scored the decisive goal in the 2-1 victory following an assist from Til. The striker ended the night with a brace in just his second senior international appearance.
Xavi particularly praised his humility, work rate and willingness to help the team. Two players who were originally outside his plans have quickly become important figures during his first matches as head coach.
The Netherlands Looks to Take Another Step Against Greece
The next challenge will be Greece, which the Netherlands will visit on Thursday in Thessaloniki in Group A2 of the UEFA Nations League. The Oranje enters the match with four points after drawing against Germany and defeating Serbia, while the Greeks lead the group after winning their opening two matches.
Xavi acknowledged that he expects a better version of his team from the opening whistle. The coach believes the Netherlands has understood its matches better during the second half and now wants to see that same level of performance from the start.
After taking advantage of their opportunities, both Til and Meerdink have emerged as important options for a match that could begin to shape the battle for the top positions in the group.
Til and Meerdink Earn Xavi's Trust
- Xavi Hernández admitted that he made a mistake by initially leaving Guus Til out of the Netherlands squad.
- Til assisted Mexx Meerdink for the decisive goal in the 2-1 victory over Serbia, while the striker finished the match with a brace.
- The Netherlands will visit Greece in Thessaloniki with four points from its opening two matches in the UEFA Nations League.
Xavier Hernández Creus
Netherlands
