Full article translated.
FOOTBAL - He makes today (Wednesday) his comeback in the away game against Hull City. A tear in his knee kept him on the side of Middlesbrough FC for a month. Rav van den Berg (19) from Zwolle has in his first season in England his way to the club in the Championship. “I’m really glad I’m here.”
(by Erik Riemens)
The away game in Hull is almost a home game. The distance is about 100 kilometers. With two teams from Wales (Swansea and Cardiff) and clubs from South England such as Southampton, Bristol and Plymouth, the travel distances are huge and that in a league with 24 clubs. Hull City-Middlesbrough is league match number 41. Add to that the games to the FA Cup, League Cup and in the case of Middlesbrough possibly also the play-offs and the slot is bizarre.
Airplane aircraft
“You really live from competition to competition. There is simply not much time to reflect on the previous game. It also means that the training is different from the Netherlands. Here it is more focused on getting even better in the game. So very specifically. Occasionally it is also quite hard and you are not quite fully recovered. Due to my knee injury I was about four weeks out, there was also the interland break. Saturday against Swansea I was back and I was on the bench. The coach (Michael Carrick, ER) had said of only when it is needed, you get in. We won 2-0, I play again on Wednesday. And to be honest. I like to play so many games, I like it,” Rav sketches.
Life is laughing at the Zwolen defender in England. In the summer of 2023 he signed a four-year contract with Middlesbrough. There was a lot of interest. From Ajax, AS Roma and other clubs in England, it was Boro or The Teesiders as the club is also called. “Middlesbrough is a huge club with a lot of followers. That’s also because you don’t really have many other big clubs here, except Leeds United, although that’s not really around.”
“The fans are great. Everyone loves football here. I am still surprised that almost all home games are sold out and so many supporters go to outduels. We regularly go by plane, but the fans then travel by car or by train and then to think that we often play during the week. They're just there, I appreciate it. I think they are more positive than in the Netherlands. They want you to win every game and they always support you. Even if you lose. As long as they see you've done everything. They still love a hard tackle every time.”
The favorite position
Van den Berg immediately worked his way up to a starting player in his first season. “I started out as a right-back and that’s not exactly my favorite position. I also had a match of left wing defender, because the coach was not satisfied with our left back at the time. Now I'm at the center of the right in the back. I really like to play there too. The level of the Championship has grown enormously in recent years, partly due to the relegation of a number of major Premier League clubs, such as Newcastle United, which is now playing at the highest level again.”
“Old-champion Leicester City is now at the top of our league. We are eighth with only a few points behind the number six, that place is good for the play-offs for promotion. The crazy thing is that we take points against the top teams, but that we leave it against the clubs we actually have to beat for.”
“Middlesbrough has a name and history and really wants to get higher up. I understood that they want to make the necessary investments next season,” said Van den Berg, who scored once this season: the 2-0 against Preston North End. The club for which brother Sepp (22) played more than sixty games for. He is now active at FC Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga.
Cooking and cooking
“I have a lot of contact with my family. With Sepp, but also with my sister and parents. As a family, we are very close and we call often. They have also been here regularly and if I am free for a few days - that is not very common - then I sometimes go to Zwolle. PEC I will definitely follow, I have watched the duel against Excelsior at home. I live by myself, just outside the city. That choice has been good for me, also because it is quieter than in the middle of the city, where you are recognized. At the beginning it took some getting used to cooking and everything, but now I’m fine. I am having a good time here.”
“On social media, there were rumors of interest in me, but I didn’t respond to them. I have a three-year contract after this. For now, I have no reason to leave. I am so glad I am here.”
www.deswollenaer.nl
