Afellay unhappy at PSV

Monday 28 July 2008

His holidays were too short, the squad does not have the required quality and the selling of Ismail Aissati was 'sheer annulment'.

Ibrahim Afellay is unhappy at PSV.

He was the only PSV-player to be part of the crack regiment of Marco van Basten this summer.

Yet he attended PSV's pre-season training from day 1.

Because coach Huub Stevens made him; not because he wanted to.

It stung the midfielder that the new manager didn't listen to him, he told De Pers after a friendly against the amateurs of Vaassen (1-5).

"I have had three weeks holiday. For me that is one week short. The European Championships were tough, especially mentally. I have indicated that. But the manager thought it better if I were to join in from the start. So I did that. I do train once a day instead of twice."

- Was he able to convince you that it was better to join from the first day?

"No he didn't convince me. I came because I had to, not because I wanted to. It wasn't for nothing that I indicated I needed another week."

It is not the only dissatisfaction slumbering in the player's mind.

In the second week of training Afellay was confronted with the news of his best mate Ismail Aissati leaving the club to join Ajax.

"Now they will probably say: oh here he is again, because he's my mate. But I think it's sheer annulment."

- Did you express your concern?

"Several times. I expressed my thoughts internally and later also to others."

- But they didn't listen?

"No, and that's a shame. You don't have to be an expert to see that he has exceptional qualities. Now he plays for the competition. I have no words for it."

Against the departure of - among others - Aissati - goal keeper Isaksson, defenders Rodriguez, Bréchet and Pieters and forward Amrabat were signed.

But for Afellay that is simply not enough.

"I hope we will get some more reinforcements. I am expecting a lot from myself for the coming season. But also from the team."

For what positions PSV should get new players in Afellay doesn't want to say.

"That's for management to decide."